Ad Vitam uses familiar action-thriller patterns but benefits from strong performances and energetic set pieces. Rodolphe Lauga's film is more persuasive during confrontations than when it explains the larger conspiracy around them.
Former GIGN member Franck Lazarev is drawn back into danger after his wife Léo is abducted. A personal crisis expands into a conflict involving wider power structures. The resemblance to Taken and the Bourne films makes the story accessible, but also predictable.
Guillaume Canet gives Franck credibility through the tension between violence and his emotional attachment to Léo. Stéphane Caillard combines vulnerability with strength, especially when the character has to defend herself. Their chemistry gives the action a worthwhile emotional foundation.
The chases across Paris rooftops are a highlight. Dynamic camera work and choreography make these sequences impressive. The narrative is less controlled: transitions between periods can be unclear, the antagonists' motivations remain vague, and some secondary strands are introduced without enough development.
For me, the film provides solid entertainment despite those weaknesses. It does not redefine the genre, and viewers seeking originality or a deeply developed conspiracy may be disappointed. The cast and the action nevertheless make it a good option for a tense evening built around familiar, competently handled ingredients.