Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Paris 2020. While superheroes have assimilated into the Parisian society, they discover a new drug that gives themselves personal superpowers to mere mortals. Lieutenants Moreau and Schaltzmann are investigating the case with the support of two ex-superheroes, Monte Carlo and Callista. They'll do whatever it takes to dismantle the traffic. But Moreau's past resurfaces, and the investigation becomes more complicated.
How I Became a Superhero is a French genre mashup that blends superhero lore with police procedural in a Paris where capes and powers are mundane. The premise is genuinely fresh for European cinema and the world-building is inventive on a modest budget, earning it a solid novelty score. The plot is competent but loses momentum in its second half, relying on familiar noir investigation beats and a backstory reveal that feels telegraphed. Acting from the ensemble is serviceable — Pio Marmaï and Vimala Pons bring charm, though characterization stays thin. Cinematography is functional and occasionally stylish, capturing Paris with some flair, but rarely rises to memorable visual storytelling. The ending deflates the film's earlier energy, wrapping up neatly but without real punch or emotional payoff, leaving the overall experience feeling like a promising pilot rather than a complete story.