Written and directed by Quentin Dupieux, a group of vigilantes called the “tobacco-forces” is falling apart. To rebuild team spirit, their leader suggests that they meet for a week-long retreat, before returning to save the world. Starring: Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Lacoste, Anaïs Demoustier, Jean-Pascal Zadi, Oulaya Amamra, Marie Bunel, Blanche Gardin, Grégoire Ludig, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Jérôme Niel and Doria Tillier.

If you’re heading into Smoking Causes Coughing with absolutely no awareness of Quentin Dupieux, then it will likely be quite the strange experience. However, if you’re aware of Dupieux’s penchant for the unusual and inventively weird, then you’ll basically know what to expect from it. Arguably this is one of his least odd to date, it’s still plenty far away enough from being classed in any stereotypical genre but it has a more accessible tone. It plays out like an adventure in storytelling, filled with bizarre characters telling unbelievable tales, with a twisted sense of humour. It’s short, the pacing is great and while it is a shame not to learn more about the superhero team and their creepy muppet looking chief, it’s genuinely entertaining.

Visually it’s darting through all sorts of pop culture references, depending on when you were born you might go with Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Thunderbirds or even Futurama. It’s campy looking superheroes, with slightly ill-fitting costumes, a thirst for justice and some odd adventures with eccentric characters. Its palette follows that feel of old-fashioned children’s and family television, it’s very light and breezy. However, it does take the occasional turn for the violent and dark, which creates a fantastic balance of quirky. The effects are really well done and it moves through cheesy monster costumes, puppets and bloody gore with ease.

With Smoking Causes Coughing moving through all those different stories, there’s a big cast at play and they’re a great ensemble. Starting with our spandex sporting superheroes, Gilles Lellouche, Vincent Lacoste, Anaïs Demoustier, Jean-Pascal Zadi and Oulaya Amamra. They create a great team vibe, and they have a surprisingly casual and cocky feel. Blanche Gardin is another highlight, she’s absolutely superb, watching her build the character’s frustration and annoyance at a hilariously gory situation is wonderful. Adèle Exarchopoulos and Doria Tillier give similarly memorable performances in a growingly ridiculous and utterly enjoyable foray into deep thinking.

Smoking Causes Coughing is surprisingly one of Quentin Dupieux’s less strange adventures and yet it’s still wonderfully weird. Dupieux has a handle, unlike any other filmmaker, on how to creatively and imaginatively build these gorgeously odd worlds, that are really fun to spend time in. The stories are highly unusual with a taste for black comedy and they all work together really well despite being completely different. It looks and feels nostalgic, throwing back to a lot of sci-fi of the past. There’s a terrific ensemble at work, with a lot of big personalities in the mix, creating something pleasingly peculiar.

Verdict: ✯✯✯✯| 8/10

In UK & Irish Cinemas from 7 July