FAMILY PACK. The French “Jumanji” with Jean Reno for Halloween

Robin Williams is no longer with us, but he left behind a legacy of brilliant films, including Joe Johnston’s charming family movie “Jumanji” from 1995. Meanwhile, the times have come when the unyielding “Leon: The Professional”, also known as Jean Reno (or the other way around, if you prefer), has started playing grandfathers with the early stages of dementia. However, he still does it with great class, striving to keep his career moving forward. On Netflix, you can now watch “Family Pack”, a comedy by François Uzan that draws heavily on the “Jumanji” concept, although this time with a stronger focus on magical fantasy than Johnston’s original. Some viewers might see elements of science fiction in this production, but it doesn’t affect its overall appeal. What matters is the delightful entertainment value of “Family Pack”, a rare feat in the realm of genre cinema from France.

“Les Visiteurs”, the work of Jeunet-Caro, “Arthur and the Minimoys”, “Gandahar” – these titles come to mind when thinking about French fantasy, though it’s not a leading genre in French cinema. Comedy, on the other hand, is a different story. This is why I approached “Family Pack”, which combines both worlds, with a bit of apprehension. At this intersection of worlds, the director risked creating a mismatch that could end up feeling exhausting. Fortunately, François Uzan’s approach and budget saved it. I couldn’t find exact figures, but the quality of the magical effects suggests a decent amount of funding. This allowed the director to set much of the story in a medieval world, even if the scope remains limited. For instance, there’s a noticeable lack of wide shots, likely because they would have been costly, even with CGI, if done properly. Nonetheless, the creative story makes up for the visual limitations and smaller scale of certain scenes.

The plot revolves around a family gathering, one they’re not overly keen on, as everyone has their own distractions in our internet-dominated age. Only Jérôme (played by Franck Dubosc) is truly invested in bringing everyone together, especially his father, Gilbert (Jean Reno), who struggles with memory to the point of forgetting his late wife’s name and failing to recognize his grandchildren (even if one is technically a step-grandchild). The family is soon drawn into a mysterious game in a wooden box, where the goal is to hunt werewolves. Little do they know that, much like in “Jumanji”, the game will pull them into a different world, bestowing each family member with a unique superpower and forcing them to face monsters in earnest. Thus, the modern setting quickly fades as the story shifts to another time, filled with tragically comic situations that highlight how primitive humanity was just a few centuries ago. Here, the screenwriters use the opportunity to critique many modern stereotypes, casting them as shameful relics from the “dark” Middle Ages, dominated by fear of witches, sorcery, superstitions, and the hypocrisy of the ruling class and its clerical allies. This typically French approach, however, is handled with subtlety.

As for the monsters, the creators were not afraid to showcase them. The werewolves appear quickly, frequently, and interact confidently with the unaltered human characters, not just the main ones, showing the crew’s technical skill. The terror of the werewolves is toned down to suit family fantasy, yet they remain fascinating creatures seamlessly blended into the comedy. The film is full of gags, some clever, some less so, and cultural references. During the action, viewers encounter none other than Leonardo da Vinci. They are also invited to reflect on the dynamics of blended families and witness the dental state of medieval townsfolk. All of this leads to a magical climax, where the comedic action pauses briefly to prompt a moment of reflection on how even the strongest family ties can fade over time if they aren’t actively nurtured.

In this sense, “Family Pack” is a modern fairy tale with a moral—humanistic and obvious yet often lost in the bustle of daily life, much like thoughts in Gilbert’s aging mind. Gilbert, portrayed by Jean Reno, is the highlight of the film, especially in the medieval scenes where he gains a special kind of power, almost like a character in a video game or the continuation of “Jumanji” by Jake Kasdan. This Halloween, you can see just how far family devotion can go—and where its limits lie—in a slightly monstrous atmosphere that “Family Pack” suits perfectly.