Let's get Reel
From Paris with Love
Adam Wheeler
Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: Variety
Let me be clear about one thing, "From Paris, With Love" is not going to change what you think about action movies. This is your run-of-the-mill action flick that is going to feature all the shooting galleries, cheesy one liners, and recycled plot twists that you've seen many times before. What sets this one apart from the pack is a few different things.
First, the performance of John Travolta as Charlie Wax was outstanding. He plays a strangely similar role to the one he played in the movie "Swordfish." His witty profanity-laden zingers add chuckles to a movie that offers no other sources of humor.
For a man well into his 50s, Travolta moves pretty well as an action star. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that his stunt double moves pretty well. Either way, if it weren't for Travolta, this movie would be a flop.
Second, the movie did a great job of only putting the absolutely necessary footage in the final cut. The film clocks in at just barely above an hour and a half. Take away the credits and you're left with around 85 minutes of the actual movie. Which brings me to my next point.
The movie does not try to be anything more than it really is. This isn't a Michael Bay movie. Director Pierre Morel had no intention of making it an epic masterpiece that will give the audience an aneurysm out of awe for the special effects. Basically, the film has self-awareness that so many movies, like anything Bay has made, are lacking.
The movie no doubt has its downfalls. The plot is about as generic as it gets and doesn't try very hard to hide that. There is one plot twist that may take some people off guard, but it's nothing to write home about.
The acting outside of Travolta is average at best. You'll barely recognize anyone from the supporting cast, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but Jonathan Rhys Meyers at times looked like he was reading directly off the cue card.
I'm not sure how much his poor performance is his fault, or the fault of the writing crew. When you're asked to deliver lines like, "How about we skip dinner, and go right to dessert," how do you not sound like a complete tool?
It may at times feel like a bastardized version of a James Bond movie, but overall the movie will hold your attention for 90 minutes. So if you're looking for a nice bite-sized action movie that you can simply turn off your brain and enjoy, this is about as good as it gets.
First, the performance of John Travolta as Charlie Wax was outstanding. He plays a strangely similar role to the one he played in the movie "Swordfish." His witty profanity-laden zingers add chuckles to a movie that offers no other sources of humor.
For a man well into his 50s, Travolta moves pretty well as an action star. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that his stunt double moves pretty well. Either way, if it weren't for Travolta, this movie would be a flop.
Second, the movie did a great job of only putting the absolutely necessary footage in the final cut. The film clocks in at just barely above an hour and a half. Take away the credits and you're left with around 85 minutes of the actual movie. Which brings me to my next point.
The movie does not try to be anything more than it really is. This isn't a Michael Bay movie. Director Pierre Morel had no intention of making it an epic masterpiece that will give the audience an aneurysm out of awe for the special effects. Basically, the film has self-awareness that so many movies, like anything Bay has made, are lacking.
The movie no doubt has its downfalls. The plot is about as generic as it gets and doesn't try very hard to hide that. There is one plot twist that may take some people off guard, but it's nothing to write home about.
The acting outside of Travolta is average at best. You'll barely recognize anyone from the supporting cast, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but Jonathan Rhys Meyers at times looked like he was reading directly off the cue card.
I'm not sure how much his poor performance is his fault, or the fault of the writing crew. When you're asked to deliver lines like, "How about we skip dinner, and go right to dessert," how do you not sound like a complete tool?
It may at times feel like a bastardized version of a James Bond movie, but overall the movie will hold your attention for 90 minutes. So if you're looking for a nice bite-sized action movie that you can simply turn off your brain and enjoy, this is about as good as it gets.
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