Very Big Shot is a glorious surprise. What begins as a gangster drama twists itself into an uproarious cine-literate comedy.

Though the plot begs comparisons to Affleck’s Argo, Chaaya takes himself much less seriously and the cast are clearly having a ball with bizarre humour well-suited to British sensibilities.

Alain Saadeh is an energetic and physically imposing central presence, convincing as a threatening drug lord and as an ambitious blagger.

In the final act the film stumbles by running away with itself as much as the characters do, culminating with a finale that amplifies the surreal tone far beyond believability.

This bonkers story is great fun and boasts a clever title which suggests endless relevant inferences. It’s just a shame that the ending is a total shot in the dark.

RATING: 4/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Wissam Fares, Alexandra Kahwagi, Alain Saadeh, Tarek Yaacoub, Fouad Yammine

DIRECTOR: Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya

WRITER: Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, Alain Saadeh

SYNOPSIS: A drugs smuggler cooks up a bizarre pseudo-film production as a front for his activities.