Newly released on Netflix, Under Paris (2024) follows Sophia (Berenice Bejo), a marine scientist studying the effects of climate change and rubbish dumped into oceans on sharks. After an incident on one expedition that saw one of the sharks they were tracking kill her crew, including her husband, she retires from her work. However, when she is made aware that the same shark has found its way into the Seine on the eve of a triathlon, she is brought back into the fold to help stop a massacre.
When I think of French films my mind immediately goes to the artistic works that have become part of the furniture for all film studies students. This is obviously due to my ignorance as one of these students, but I’m not naive. I know that not all French films are of that ilk, but I still wouldn’t imagine seeing this kind of silly schlock coming out of their film system. And let’s not get it twisted, this is total schlock. It starts off feeling like it is trying to give a message about environmentalism and looking after our oceans, but this message feels confused throughout the film, especially as most of the characters who are proponents of this are hugely unlikeable. It also means that the tone of the film drastically changes, starting as something somewhat serious and by the end becoming complete and utter nonsense. I’m not necessarily complaining about this as the film is at its most entertaining when it becomes utter nonsense, but that also doesn’t mean that it is all that good. The film's biggest issue is that it is overly generic. As so many shark films are, it is trying to be Jaws (1975), but there is no way it is ever going to reach those lofty heights, and when the plot and characters feel as similar as they often do it really pulls into focus how uninspired the film is. It can be fun during the shark attack scenes, but it often ‘jumps the shark’ (lol) and goes way too far to the point where my laughter at the ridiculous nature of what was happening just became utter bewilderment and eye-rolling. If you have nothing better to do it could be something to put on and turn your brain off too, but I wouldn’t advise you rush out to see it.
Under Paris is available to watch on Netflix.
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