The quirky comedy by Quentin Dupieux balances fourth wall jokes but lacks depth in exploring numerous themes. The film's use of mise en abyme results in quick world-switching, creating a muddled and incomplete experiment. Despite the talented cast, The Second Act fails to delve deep into important topics, leaving the comedy feeling overstayed.

Quentin Dupieux premiered his quirky comedy, The Second Act (Le Deuxime Acte), to a crowd of eager film lovers at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The director continues to leverage the art of mise en abyme, where his characters are shooting a film within this feature and dissecting the state of the film industry. A highly restrained examination of multiple topics, The Second Act is a film about everything and nothing all at once. Perhaps in line with Dupieuxs style, the surreal, dark humor and commentary produce a messy end product that overstays its welcome.

4/10

Florence wants to introduce David,...