Jean Dujardin thinks that his serial “Zorro” has nothing to do with OSS 117, and yet…

TV SERIES – When Don Diego de la Vega meets (unintentionally) Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath. After being put online on the Paramount+ streaming platform in September, France 2 is broadcasting this Monday, December 23, the first four episodes of the eight-episode French series. Zorro revisits the myth of the masked Californian vigilante. Under Don Diego's sombrero, we find Jean Dujardin. The actor of the saga OSS 117 does what he does best: humor.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Los Angeles was a small, seemingly prosperous city in California (Mexico). But when Don Diego de la Vega becomes mayor, succeeding his father, he understands that the latter has in reality seriously put the city in debt, notably to the ruthless Don Emmanuel. A complex situation to manage for the fifty-year-old who also has to deal with marital problems. To protect the population that the sergeant has abandoned, Don Diego is somewhat forced to take out his Zorro costume from the attic, obviously a little skimpy. Fortunately, Bernardo is there to support him.

Until then, nothing revolutionary you will tell me for those who have seen (and re-watched, and re-re-watched) the different adaptations of Zorro.

The series created by Noé Debré and Benjamin Charbit, however, adopts a significantly different tone. Whether in the cult series of the 60s, or the films with Antonio Banderas, the character of Zorro has never lacked repartee. His interactions with Sergeant Garcia or the bandits were always amusing. But the Zorro of 2024 goes even further.

Many scenes veer into the ridiculous situation and the theatrical comedia dell'arte style, even the absurd. The scenario does not hesitate to play with repetition comedy, relying on very first-degree humor. If you are totally insensitive to this type of humor ” OSS way », you risk not being taken on board. And Jean Dujardin, who plays this returning vigilante, has nothing to do with it.

Zorro comical in spite of himself

« Lazy people will say it's hidden OSS », lamented Jean Dujardin during the press conference presenting the series at which HuffPost attended September 3. However, it is difficult to dissociate the actor from his cult character of Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath, and even less so when many of Zorro's lines of dialogue could have been spoken by the latter.

The main person concerned, however, completely rejects this comparison which seems to annoy him. “ It's my head, it's my nose, it's me, I can't do anything about it. But I never thought about OSS while playing because it wasn't written like that. There was another score to find and play », affirms Jean Dujardin. At least that's what it says.

The Dujardin-style Don Diego de la Vega does not have the epic panache of Guy Williams, iconic actor in the 1957 series, nor the impertinent seduction of Antonio Banderas. It is, by the will of screenwriter Benjamin Charbit “ not at all a hero in the first degree “. This Zorro is clumsy, naive, but often funny despite himself. And it must be admitted, endearing. But we sometimes forget that he is the city councilor of Los Angeles by day and a masked vigilante by night… and not a French secret agent. No offense to the actor, marked in spite of himself by his role in the films of Michel Hazanavicius and Nicolas Bedos.

The series can, however, also rely on tasty “second” roles. Éric Elmosnino is impeccable as an antagonist, playing a venal and deliciously detestable Don Emmanuel, “ a great bastard role » for the actor. Audrey Dana, aka Gabriella de la Vega, also benefits from frankly nice scenes and dialogues. Finally, we must admit a crush (or a crush) on Sergeant Cristobal from this new version of Zorroto whom Grégory Gadebois lends his inimitable good nature and voice, and to his perfectly silly soldiers.

The 8 episodes of Zorro will be broadcast on Monday December 23 and 30 on France 2 with four episodes per evening from 9:10 p.m. Episodes then available for replay on the Francetv website. Without being choosy, Zorro is a series that is easily consumed. But which unfortunately leaves a slight feeling of length and a slight taste of unfinished business. The humor, certainly inherent to the character, eclipses the romantic adventure which should transport us to the daring rescues of Don Diego de la Vega. The masked vigilante was by his own admission rusty, and unfortunately missed his sword a little. Damn!

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