Don't let them fool you. Although the new French film "Bon Voyage" is being touted as a comedy, it certainly doesn't feel like one. The story of Nazis, politicians, actresses and scientists, is earnestly acted and well-scripted, but while there's some subtle wit, it's no comedy.

Oddly enough, for a French film, there's not all that much explicit romance, either. Although there's a lot of implied romance, there are no sex scenes and almost no physical contact of any kind, in fact.

Directed and co-written by Jean-Paul Rappeneau ("Cyrano de Bergerac"), "Bon Voyage" stars Isabelle Adjani as Viviane, the biggest film star in late 1930s Paris. Men are drawn to her and pay her far more attention that she would like and in the case of one man, the attention leads to disaster. Her life-long friend and admirer Frederic (Gregori Derangere) steps in to help her and lands in prison.

When the Germans arrive in Paris, the prison gates fly open and Frederic flees to Bordeaux with fellow prisoner Raoul (Yvan Attal), where he runs into Viviane, who is now engaged in an affair with a powerful minister Beaufort (Gerard Depardieu). Along the way, they meet Kopolski (Jean-Marc Stehle), a physics professor attempting to take his "heavy water" -- required for atomic reactions -- to England. At his side is his lovely young assistant Camille (Virginie Ledoyen).

Everyone's paths cross, as you might expect, in Bordeaux once word gets out that the professor is there with his water. Winckler (Peter Coyote), a German spy, is also more than a little interested, too ... in both Viviane and in the heavy water.

Despite the backdrop of war and French politics, the story's nominal love interests and Viviane's attempts to prevent Frederic being re-arrested and yet saving her own skin, the film ultimately focuses on Kopolski's ability to get out of the country before he and his water can be usurped by the French or the Germans.

"Bon Voyage" is something of an odd case. While it's hard to fault anything -- everything from the costumes to the music to the performances is well-done -- there's also a spark missing and in the end "Bon Voyage" feels more like a low-key public television film rather than an engaging and driving drama about World War II espionage.

"Bon Voyage" opens Fri., May 7 at Landmark's Oriental Theatre.