Ad Vitam functions as a French action thriller and demonstrates competence in its technical aspects, though it falters with the central storyline. Guillaume Canet portrays Franck with convincing authenticity, and the initial sequence depicting a home invasion is truly suspenseful and disturbing. The film effectively illustrates the harshness of GIGN training, and the physical feats appear considerably more realistic than those commonly seen in American action movies. The plot’s reliance on a “government conspiracy,” though, proves to be its downfall. It's hard to accept that France’s internal security agency (DGSI) would resort to such extreme—and questionable—tactics, like abducting a woman who is expecting and attempting to kill an ex-operative, simply to conceal a failed theft. This transforms the film from a believable police story into a cynical political scenario that clashes with the realistic feel of the action sequences. What’s more, a very lengthy flashback sequence occupies almost half the movie's duration, which disrupts the pace of the contemporary search for Franck’s spouse.

Source on TMDB