The Great Displacement: Why was the film not as successful as expected?

After the success of Tout simplement noir in 2020, Jean-Pascal Zadi returns with Le Grand Déplacement, an ambitious space comedy. Despite a budget of €17 million and a stellar cast, the film struggles to convince. Between misfired humor and disappointing direction, it’s a resounding failure.

A space ambition that turns into a fiasco

Le Grand Déplacement promised a science fiction comedy never before seen in France. The story of an African space mission to the planet Nardal had everything going for it. But the result falls far short of expectations.

The film suffers from a flat pace and uninspired direction. The special effects, although well-crafted, are not enough to save the film. At only 1 hour and 22 minutes, the feature-length film feels interminable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGMKgth8Xc0

Reda Kateb, Claudia Tagbo, and Fary seem visibly uncomfortable. Their performances lack energy, as if they’ve lost faith in the project. The only positive point: the artistic direction of the spaceship.

Humor Falls Flat

Jean-Pascal Zadi wanted to mix comedy and political reflection. The result? Fat-phobic and Islamophobic jokes that make people cringe. The voice of the spaceship, with its caricatured African accent, adds to the unease.

Serious themes—ecology, decolonization—are handled lightly. The dialogue rings false, the political messages seem tacked on. A waste for such a rich subject. Box Office: Failure Confirmed From its first day, The Great Displacement was a resounding flop. With only 43 ratings on Allociné and an average of 2.57/5, audiences are sulking. Gaumont, the distributor, hadn’t even organized any preview screenings.

Compared to the success of Tout simplement noir (2.77/5), the fall is harsh. Audiences are mainly criticizing the lack of coherence and forced humor.

What remains of the Zadi spirit?

Jean-Pascal Zadi made an impression with his first film. But here, the audacity and subtlety are gone. The Great Move feels like a failed sequel, lacking the original’s freshness. The director tried too hard: comedy, science fiction, political pamphlet. The mix doesn’t work. A shame for a filmmaker who knew how to reinvent the genre.