Without doubt this sequel represents a continuation of the programme of careful quality-control instituted by the first installment which ,for once,was a successful comic- transferred -to -the- screen. The first movie was (almost) faithful to the cartoon books ,- almost" because one of the main characters was absent-the second is an original screenplay although snatches of stories appear now and then ("L'heure Du Tigre").
People were waiting for Sharon Stone who was given a conventional part ,a character you've seen a hundred times or more;she is completely out-shadowed by the Asian actress as Largo's lover,who brilliantly makes her character moving and endearing and all her scenes count .
Like the first opus,the screenplay blends present and past (but this time not a distant past :three years,which means that the events of the past depicted by the movie happened before the story in the present tense of the first story....
A first story which disappointed some viewers a bit, cause Simon 's best friend (his captain Haddock in a way) was completely absent although his part was essential in the comic albums ;with hindsight ,it was not perhaps a bad idea;because ,if Simon appears in this episode ,it's a fiasco.THe actor has no screen presence at all.Unlike Tomer Sisley,who has intellect and dynamism going for him ,Olivier Barthelemy has none:a listless character,devoid of the sense of humor the original Simon had.He is so insignificant that the story could easily do without him:even Nicolas Vaude,who is everything but an exciting actor ,shows more qualities than he does.
SPOILERS The best of this sophomore effort is the love interest:the scenes between Malunaî,Largo, and their child possess a warmth,an emotion which is rare in those action-packed adventures ;the boy crying after his mother's death is harrowing¨;and the story ends in a smart way:Largo and little Largo in the precedent episode ,Largo and his child in the second one;and finally it's that child who makes it all worthwhile,who gives a rather trite tale substance.
And last but no least ,if Olivier Barthelemy 's performance hits rock bottom,"LARGO II" can boast the presence of one of the greatest French actors of all time;it was to be his last role,for he passed away several months after .Laurent Terzieff belongs to the Delon/Belmondo generation ,and IMHO ,he was better and much more ambitious than both of them.To write that Ce Monsieur steals every scene he is in is to diminish him,for his cadaverous face and his feverish eyes literally mesmerizes you,he gave it all perhaps because he felt it was his last time.If it were only for Terzieff and the scenes of Largo's "family" ,then I can say that,in spite of obvious flaws,I did not waste my time.
NB During the final cast and credits,Cat Stevens ' "father and son" is heard,sadly in a so so cover version.
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