Review: The Count of Monte Cristo – a highly enjoyable French costume drama

The directors of this big, lusty French costume drama, Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte, previously shared the writing credits on another swaggering, swashbuckling Alexandre Dumas adaptation – the first and second installments of The Three Musketeers. And this should give you some idea of what to expect from this boisterous and very enjoyable epic.

While The Count of Monte Cristo lacks the bromantic comic flair of The Three Musketeers (it’s a tale of bitter betrayal and revenge, after all, rather than the shit-faced sword-brandishing and banter favored by D’Artagnan and co), it’s directed with verve and acted with gusto.

This old-fashioned, big-budget spectacle follows the brilliant, driven Edmond Dantès (Pierre Niney), AKA the eponymous count, on his quest for retribution against those who wronged him on the day of his wedding to the lovely Mercédès (Anaïs Demoustier).