Review: Demain tout commence

A French-language remake of the hugely successful 2013 Mexican-language film Instructions Not Included, Demain tout commence stars the hugely charismatic Omar Sy as a dedicated bachelor suddenly forced into fatherhood.

Samuel (Sy) is living the good life in the South of France, charming and romancing every lady that crosses his path. All that comes to a grinding halt when one of his one-night stands, Kristin (Clémence Poésy), shows up, hands over their baby daughter Gloria, and then leaves to return to London, professing that she's not ready to raise a child. Neither is the panicked Samuel, who ups and tries to track her down to no avail. Lucky for the non-English-speaking Samuel, he runs into French producer Bernie (Antoine Bertrand), who not only offers him and Gloria a place to stay but also gets Samuel started on his career as a successful stuntman.

Eight years later, the still non-English-speaking Samuel and Gloria (Gloria Colston) are happily ensconced in London, living in a spacious flat that's like a child's wonderland. The two obviously have a tremendously strong bond, though Gloria does miss her mother, whom she believes to be an international agent. When Kristin finally makes contact with Samuel after years of ignoring his attempts to reach her, the three seem on their way to becoming some sort of family. Complications arise when Kristin decides she wants to have custody of Gloria.

Demain tout commence is winning enough but it stacks the odds too much in Samuel's favour. To be fair, even if the filmmakers hadn't made Kristin so firmly in the wrong, Sy's personal magnetism and the warm rapport he and Colston share keep the audience staunchly on their side. Nevertheless, director Hugo Gelin and co-screenwriters Mathieu Ouillon and Jean-André Yerles would have been wise to make Kristin a more rounded character. One may not have agreed with Kramer vs Kramer's Joanna leaving her child, but one could understand her state of mind.

Despite Gelin's shakiness with the material, the film is nonetheless a heartwarming crowd-pleaser. Though not as strong a showcase for Sy's talents as his breakout role in Intouchables, Demain tout commence solidly demonstrates how he's abundant with star quality.

Demain tout commence

Directed by: Hugo Gélin

Written by: Hugo Gélin, Mathieu Ouillon, Jean-André Yerles; based on the film Instructions Not Included

Starring: Omar Sy, Clémence Poésy, Gloria Colston, Antoine Bertrand, Ashley Walters