Dupieux is characteristically abrupt, absurd, eccentric, indulges in ingenuities, is playful with gags and anarchic with the material on hand.

The fun, however, can only last so long, and despite some giggle-worthy slapstick involving a nervous, shaking, wine-splashing waiter, The Second Act eventually moves into a slower, less ebullient gear.

The Second Act, a soufflé-light meta-comedy that rises delightfully before collapsing somewhat without being fully cooked.

...[The Second Act] is a hilarious satire that blends formal virtuosity, playful repetition, and the extraordinary work of the leading quartet into a reflection on the survival of cinema...[Full review in Spanish]