All Hands On Deck review

Three unlikely companions are thrown together in this breezy and heartwarming French campsite comedy.

I headed straight over to Mubi after reading an article on the films of Guillaume Brac in last month’s Sight and Sound Magazine, which recommended the relatively unsung auteur. Furthermore, set over a summer holiday, All Hands On Deck sounded like the perfect accompaniment to the current school summer break, and a great addition to our list of ‘The Best Films Set Over The Summer Holidays.’

The film did not disappoint. The premise lies in easygoing Felix’s (Eric Nantchouang) impromptu decision to travel to rural France from his home town of Paris to surprise recent acquaintance and love-interest Alma (Asma Messaoudene) at her country home. He brings along Cherif (Salif Cissé), his Paris buddy, and the two bundle into a ride share with the resentful and nervy Eduoard (Édouard Sulpice). The three are soon thrown together when the car breaks down, and they must suddenly live together in two tiny tents at the campsite while it is repaired.

Alma’s response to the surprise visit is not as hoped. She is angry and Felix is left with an injured ego and desperate to make amends.

Meanwhile Cherif befriends Helena (Ana Blagojevik), a new mother, and her baby at the campsite, forming a charming and hilarious duo with baby Nina. Eduoard’s timid mother’s-boy persona is slowly shaken off as he becomes closer with Cherif (they admit together to being “washouts” when it comes to romance) and eventually with Felix.

There is also an utterly joyous karaoke scene towards the end of the film, which makes much better use of Christophe’s ‘Aline’ than The French Dispatch earlier this year.

The film feels almost like a documentary, with naturalistic and nuanced dialogue and unobtrusive cinematography.

Anyone who has been on a French campsite will immediate recognise the gaudy inflatable flamingos propped up against tents; kids running about; walking to the toilet block amongst chirping cicadas; and the sound of the plastic zip of the tent, signalling freedom from fluorescent plastic humidity.

But with all its predictability, the summer holiday campsite setting provides the perfect opportunity for the unexpected through both spontaneous liaisons and introspective self discovery.

All Hands On Deck is surprisingly affecting, building complex characters who I completely believed in. It has all the best bits of Rohmer but with more comedic set-ups (and therefore more laughs) and a more socially conscious and modern day touch.  I enjoyed it thoroughly and it has now called for a summer Brac-athon.

All Hands On Deck is available to stream on Mubi now and to rent/buy on Apple TV; Google Play; Youtube and Amazon Prime Video.