Jean Dujardin plays the role of Zorro brilliantly
We dreamed it… and they did it! The dream is to see Zorro/Don Diego de la Vega back on the screen, a character created by Johnston McCulley who has marked the collective memory for more than half a century. Those who make this dream possible in the 8 episodes of the series Zorothey are Benjamin Charbit (Under control) and Noé Debré (Parliament). They are accompanied in the screenplay by Emmanuel Poulain-Arnaud (The proof) and directed by Emilie Noblet (The 7 Lives of Léa) and Jean-Baptiste Saurel (Parallels).
Certainly, since the end of the original series in 1961, several actors have worn the masked vigilante costume with more or less success. Alain Delon in 1975 Zoro from the Italian Duccio Tessari, then Antony Hopkins in 1998 in The Mask of Zorro by Martin Campbel, who found his successor in the person of Antonio Banderas. The latter also returned to service in 2005 with The Legend of Zorro.
The Zorro of this new series is French this timebecause it is Jean Dujardin who brilliantly puts his humor and his acting at the service of the character. The cloak, the mask and the sword are tailor-made for the actor.
Don Diego’s pen is no substitute for Zorro’s sword
The action takes place in 1821 Los Angeles. Mayor Don Alejandro (André Dussollier) is having trouble giving up his position to his son Don Diego. From the beginning, the overwhelming father-son relationship is addressed with psychology, the key word in this series. Because It is in fact Don Diego’s psyche that is analyzed with finesse and derision In Zoro through his relationships. In addition to the one with his father who will come to haunt him beyond the grave, the relationship with his wife Gabriella (Audrey Dana) is in fact at the center of the series.
Although Don Diego hung up his sword 20 years ago, Gabriella knows nothing of her husband’s past secret activities. Now mayor, Don Diego finds himself forced back into service. He has no choice but to fight against Don Emmanuel’s (Eric Elmosnino) takeover of the city. The hero’s reunion with his accessories preserved, indeed improved by the ever-shrewd and wise Bernardo (Salvatore Ficarra), rejoice.
Which is very well seen by the creators of Zorothis is how they portray themselves the difficulties of the somewhat rusty hero in reconciling his double identity. For the viewer’s greatest pleasure, they play with the opposition of the two sides of her personality. Because it is no longer her husband’s political rhetoric and his ambitious projects for the city that make Gabriella dream. But the scent of adventure and courage that carries the dark and the charismatic Zorro, who obviously doesn’t recognize.
Diego/Zorro and Gabriella’s feelings are perfectly dissected and the misunderstandings, the pretenses and the twists are fun. Especially because the authors of Zorovery inspired, they involve the viewer and hide nothing from him secrets within the couple. Nor of their doubts, their lies, their anger, their disappointment, the traps they set for themselves and their revenge.
Who is betraying who?
The authors also invite the viewer to reflect on the ability of this couple stuck in their daily life to (re)birth passion. Because beyond the comedy, subtly raises the question of the future of an aging hero. And reasons that push him or slow him down to want to continue to maintain the mystery and fantasy.
Zoro allows us to joyfully rediscover the character of Sergeant Garcia (Grégory Gadebois), flanked by two acolytes as awkward as he is, Gros moustachu (Jean-Benoît Ugeux) and Petit teigneux (Julien Gaspar-Oliveri). The screenwriters had the good idea of offering the Sergeant the opportunity to analyze his relationship with Zorro. Understanding his complex obsession with the vigilante and the wisdom that emerges are, once again, extremely entertaining.
Furthermore, the politics and social history of the country are addressed without concessions. Hence the hard life of the natives and the methods used by the rich to keep them in a state of near slavery. The authors also make the young Nakaï (Baltasar Espinach) the adopted son of Gabriella, but, rare downside of the series, this character and his uncertain journey are not very convincing.
The comic success of Zoro also refers to lively and incisive dialogues and the staging crafted to the nearest millisecond. References are scattered everywhere, like a joyful treasure hunt for film buffs. If you push the limit of derision far enough, the last two episodes still feel a bit short of breath. But thanks to the great castingwhose jubilation is visible on the screen, Zoro it turns out to be a little gem of a seriesreconnecting with the boldness and pleasure of the original hero.
Zoro created by Benjamin Charbit and Noé Debré, broadcast on Paramount+ on September 6, 2024 and later on France Télévisions. Above is the trailer.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
