The Second Act

"Dupieux’s strategy seems to be flipping or repeating certain punchlines for fresh effect, which is fine for a while, until you realize that neither 'The Second Act' nor those second-degree readings have much to say" 

"A playfully dour satire on the film industry that sees the French absurdist delve further into apocalyptic mood and gallows humor" 

"With a barely-there narrative even by Dupieux's own standard, 'Le deuxième acte' still wrangles a few winning reveals, building to a most savage punchline" 

"'Le deuxième acte' is probably [Dupieux's] strongest film yet" 

"If the results are always a bit ragged, does it matter? Dupieux may never make a masterpiece, but his slapdash, wild entertainments are irresistible" 

"The cast are great and the ideas all there, though this attempt at a satire never comes together" 

"Léa Seydoux’s bizarre AI comedy is a very timely Cannes opener (...) Enjoyably surrealist (...) Ingeniously, Dupieux makes the two possibilities impossible to untwist. Here, artists and their art are inseparable (...) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)"