Smoking Causes Coughing
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 2022 |
| Founder | Quentin Dupieux |
| Products | Comedy film |
| Parent | Gaumont |
Smoking Causes Coughing () is a 2022 French comedic motion picture crafted by Quentin Dupieux, who also handled the writing, cinematography, and editing. The film features a principal cast including Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Lacoste, Anaïs Demoustier, Jean-Pascal Zadi, and Oulaya Amamra, supported by appearances from , Adèle Exarchopoulos, , Doria Tillier, Jérôme Niel, Blanche Gardin, Alain Chabat, and Benoît Poelvoorde. Its narrative follows a quintet of superheroes participating in a compulsory retreat designed to strengthen their faltering unity, which is then interrupted by the villain Lézardin (Poelvoorde), who aims to annihilate the planet.
The movie made its debut on 21 May 2022 during the non-competitive Midnight Screening segment at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and was subsequently distributed in France by Gaumont on 30 November 2022. It received predominantly favorable critiques, with reviewers commending Dupieux’s direction and script, the ensemble’s acting, and its comedic elements. French critics identified inspirations drawn from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Choudenshi Bioman, Tales from the Crypt, Power Rangers, and Les Nuls.
Premise
Following a strenuous confrontation with a colossal turtle, the Tobacco Force embarks on a mandatory week-long team-building retreat intended to restore their diminishing camaraderie. However, their efforts are jeopardized when Lézardin, the Emperor of Evil, threatens global destruction.
Release
Smoking Causes Coughing had its premiere in the midnight screening category at the Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2022. The film was released theatrically across France on 30 November 2022.
Reception
The movie holds a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 74 out of 100, reflecting generally positive feedback. On French platform AlloCiné, it earned an average rating of 3.3 out of 5 based on 34 reviews.
Valerie Complex from Deadline Hollywood highlighted Dupieux’s talent for transforming extreme violence into satire and humor. Guy Lodge of Variety characterized it as a charmingly provocative film encouraging viewers to unwind and enjoy. Martin Kudlac at Screen Anarchy praised its meta-narrative style reminiscent of Lewis Carroll’s imaginative storytelling. Tim Grierson of Screen Daily described it as somewhat predictable yet consistently amusing.