The Coubertin Spirit: exceptional Benjamin Voisin (review)

Azimated and regressive, Jérémie Sein's first film joyfully embraces its evil spirit and its ingenuity and benefits from a high-level interpretation.

A non-sensical comedy about the Olympics, a mixture of slapstick, wicked satire and a hilarious portrait of a social misfit, Jérémie Sein's first film is a UFO in which Benjamin Voisin imposes what we call a real vis comica: he has found his clown. The young actor plays Paul, a gifted shooting champion, a little awkward and very virgin, who finds himself in the Olympic village for the Paris Olympics.

While the French delegation multiplies its failures, Paul will become the last chance for a medal. But a very embarrassing roommate (Rivaldo Pawawi with unstoppable phlegm), his very intrusive coach (Emmanuelle Bercot, who is always fantastic in comedy) and a very embarrassing sports boss (Grégoire Ludig as an ex-judoka – the lethal weapon of the film) will put obstacles in his way. Sein, who belongs to the team of the series Parliament signs a biting film, which moves between the clear-cut comic strip (we think a lot of Gaston Lagaffe), the scathing social comedy of the French 70s, and the totally regressive American classics (the shadows of Judd Apatow and Steve Carell loom large over this movie).

If the production is incredibly precise while being very free and even cheerfully libertarian, if the writing avoids all the traps of the genre, The Coubertin Spirit would be nothing without its brilliant casting dominated by a fantastic Benjamin Voisin. The actor confirms his status as the gifted of his generation.

Of Jérémie Sein. With Benjamin Voisin, Rivaldo Pawawi, Emmanuelle Bercot… Duration 1h18. Released May 8, 2024