This extravagantly silly, not quite fully formed anthology film is the batshit brainchild of French filmmaker Quentin Dupieux, known for similarly eccentric efforts such as Rubber, Deerskin and Mandibles, as well as his music under the pseudonym Mr Oizo (remember 1999’s ‘Flat Beat’?). With influences ranging from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers to Danger: Diabolik and Tales From The Crypt, it’s a feather-light, fundamentally likeable hodgepodge that will tickle some and probably flummox a few others.

We’re introduced to the Tobacco Force, a quintet of spandex-clad avengers first seen fighting a giant tortoise adversary who, after being neutralised with a potent combination of chemicals, explodes all over an observing family. Members of the gang include Gilles Lellouche’s Benzène, Jean-Pascal Zadi’s Mercure and Anaïs Demoustier’s Nicotine. When their rat boss, Chief Didier (voiced by Alain Chabat), raises concerns about team spirit, the group are sent on a retreat, where they bond by telling scary stories as they prepare to take on Emperor of Evil, Lézardin (Benoît Poelvoorde), who is hellbent on global destruction.

Given the high stakes and potential for poking fun at the superhero genre, the film’s stories-within-a-story structure doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Nevertheless, the equivalently daft, cartoonishly gruesome vignettes (one involving a ‘thinking helmet’ and another centring on an industrial accident) are enjoyable and the cast, particularly the ever-reliable Lellouche, give game and spirited turns.

At the very least a welcome contrast to the overblown antics of Marvel and DC’s cinematic output, Smoking Causes Coughing's misfiring heroics and tinpot charm are hard to resist, while those with an appetite for absurdity will find themselves spoiled rotten.

Smoking Causes Coughing is in cinemas from Friday 7 July.