Denys Arcand’s followup to The Decline of the American Empire is more of a slow backslide. It’s lunchtime, and somewhere between Pierre-Paul’s (Alexandre Landry) railing against geniuses (bad people) and philosophers (even worse), our arrogantly insecure delivery man’s exasperated girlfriend Linda (Florence Longpré), decides to call it quits. What they say is not particularly original, but the manner in which its presented led one to expect two more hours of crackling dialogue. Then a snap of conventionality takes the pop out of the proceedings, as our average schmo’s route finds him at the right place and the right crime scene to drive off with two satchels bursting with cash. With a title like this, American’s should expect more than the slap on the wrist Arcand delivers. But the saccharine sterility that closes the piece brings to mind Will Smith at his unstoppable worst (The Pursuit of Happyness, Collateral Beauty). Arcand is one Canadian who had best sharpen their approach to telling a story before pointing fingers in our direction (2018) — Scott Marks
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