Bare bones and brains-free, From Paris with Love offers up a carnival of bullets and bad behavior that moves fast and keeps it simple and stupid. You’re locked-in, entertained, amused, and ejected before you ever have time to complain.
[The following is a REPRINT of the redblog review of From Paris with Love on its theatrical release earlier this year. From Paris with Love is now on DVD and available for rental from redbox.]
I took some flak this time last year when I referred to Taken as “good trash.” Seems some viewers had a deep emotional connection with Taken because it used fatherly love and its jaw-breaking protection instinct as the driving force. And because we all know that if you are a young woman and set foot outside the continental United States you will be instantly abducted by swarthy foreigners and sold into sexual slavery. And yes, that includes Hawaii and Alaska.
Well folks should have no such objections to my calling From Paris with Love “good trash.” This R-rated action ramble from Taken’s producer Luc Besson and its director Pierre Morel quickly and conveniently does away with any pretense of social or emotional importance. It’s just here to chew gum and have nasty fun.
The story hinges on a buttoned-down, up-and-coming spy wannabe (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) stationed in Paris and newly partnered with his buddy-spy polar opposite: A swaggering, swearing, drug-snorting, hooker-loving cowboy played by John Travolta (head shaved like Stone Cold Austin Powers). There’s some plot stuff about drugs and Islamic terrorists, but mostly Travolta’s American is in Paris to get in fast, shoot a bunch of folks, use some hookers, do some blow, blow some stuff up, and get outta Le Dodge.
And much to its credit, so is From Paris with Love. Make no mistake, this isn’t any sort of “good” film—it will register in your reptile-brain consciousness for exactly as long as your butt is in the theater seat. But thanks to Morel’s clear talent for no-frills, high-impact action mayhem, the movie’s sleek 90-minute running time never drags or wears out its over-the-top welcome. (If at times the blunt-force stupidity of Rhys Meyers’ and Travolta’s painfully forced banter becomes too much, just close your eyes and count to 10–someone will get shot, blown up, or bedded by a hooker again soon enough.)
And you know this means something coming from me, as I’ve been upfront about my deep-rooted disinterest in John Travolta. To me, Travolta feels like a social-engineering celebrity program: We didn’t ask for him, we don’t want him, we can’t stand him, and yet here he is, still hanging around, foisted on us several times a year.
And to his credit, Travolta does his best to chew the scenery out from under From Paris with Love—from the moment he shows up, he’s bellowing, swearing, mugging, doing that wild-eyed “arch sarcasm” thing he’s thought is so “cool” since Broken Arrow. His Charlie Wax super-spy/mega-jerk routine is a silly cartoon—the energy-drink-fueled Ugly American cranked up to distortion levels—but Morel’s steady commitment to high-octane stupidity helps Travolta’s aggro ham-handedness fit right in.
In fact, the only part of From Paris with Love that drags is the first 15 minutes, before Travolta shows up. There we’re stuck with Jonathan Rhys Meyers looking horribly out of place and miscast as the American diplomatic aide who wants to be a hero. Meyers gives great brooding, cutthroat ambition in other roles, but forced to play nice and relatable here, he can barely bring himself to say his lines.
An otherwise fine Irish actor, Meyers is so awful that for those early scenes, we’re forced to block out his disinterested performance and focus on his pencil-thin facial hair. What is it? A mustache? A goatee? Where did it come from? What does it want from us?
Once the coke-and-dagger shenanigans get started in earnest, Travolta and Meyers don’t generate a ton of comedic sparks together, but the film doesn’t seem to care and eventually neither do you. There’s an appealing ‘80s buddy-cop feel to From Paris with Love, though it’s probably more Tango and Cash than Lethal Weapon. The film is plastic and shallow, but it never slows down long enough for you to mind.
Like Taken, From Paris with Love opens up some moral gray areas, but they’re quickly illuminated by pretty orange fireballs. By the time Travolta is cradling a rocket launcher while leaning out the window of a speeding Audi, it’s easy to just give and go with the low-rent awesomeness of it all.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 9:07 am
Nobody rents this expecting “Citizen Cane” or “Battleship Potemkin”, I hope. I’ts just one good old, rock em sock em Travolta spy vehicle with laughs thrown in here and there.
The best way I can describe why I liked this film is because the makers and Travolta felt comfortable enough about the project to insert a reference to John’s blast from the past…the “Royale” with cheese. How cool was THAT? Definitely a fun E ticket ride.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 11:10 am
I had no intention of seeing this film, but after reading: “What is it? A mustache? A goatee? Where did it come from? What does it want from us?” how can I possibly stay away?
You are obviously a nasty, cynical person . . .and I thoroughly enjoyed your review!
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 11:55 am
HA HA…this review is right on the mark. You described this movie perfectly. It was crappy, but I liked it!
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 12:10 pm
The movie wasn’t nearly as bad as you make it out to be. Maybe you should review movies that are more in your realm of taste, instead of bashing movies that other people enjoy. It sounds like the reviewer has a general dis-taste for action movies with not much plot, while there are a large amount of people that find this type of movie totally enjoyable. Bad review, sorry.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I really enjoyed this movie great from the start to the end! and they even left it with poss 2nd film which i would also see!
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I totally agree with Michael Smith comments and will have to rent it just for that. The pluses of watching stuff blown up for $1 is not bad either.
Thankyou for being even more cynical than I am.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Your review is an inspiration! Yep, you hit the movie for exactly what it is…a blast! If in the mood for some action and fun this works just fine and as Lori points out 2nd film may follow-you gotta love it!
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 1:28 pm
This is a man’s movie I couldn’t make it all the way through. This movie wasn’t for me, but men will love it.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I couldnt even watch the whole thing I got bored to tears the first half hour.. I watched becuze I thought travolta was better than this.. BTW I loved taken.. Not that the story line was beliveable just the one guy on a mission thing with no gun and nothing he takes down paris..lmao
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 3:18 pm
To quote Travolta from his “Welcome Back Kotter” Days: “Gimme drugs, gimme drugs.” I would not call this Visual Ipecac but it certainly comes close. And for just a buck it’s cheaper than the bottled version, but not as convenient. I suppose one should simply avoid eating prior to viewing. That there might be a sequel gives us something to look forward to…avoiding. And all the movie references to past Travolta projects? Simply a splice of life.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 3:41 pm
If you are a “film” critic you need to call this movie a guilty pleasure. But if you a moviegoer you just need to know if this movie fits the bill. Luc Besson has achieved art in his past productions like the 5th element and the Professional, which both spared no violence. But even in films’s like the Transporter, he picks an appealing premise and has it delivered adeptly.
It seems like there has been a lack of this style of thriller where Hollywood is too eager to ignore suspension of disbelief because CGI can make anything look relatively real.
Sure plausibilty is still weak, the movie is entertaining, and Travoltas character is being over the top as part of his cover and the way he is training the rookie played by Rhys Meyers.
Though true that is wont get nominated for any awards,( well maybe an MTV award)it is, like taken, a great piece of escapism. You hang with the characters enough to want to see them standing at the end. And that means that the movie has succeeded.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 3:47 pm
I am a female and really enjoyed this movie. I love Travolta and thought the premise of seeing him bald with facial hair would be too fun to resist. I was right! Language, yes. Violence, yes. But still fun to watch. The plot wasn’t that bad either with a few twists!
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 4:03 pm
I couldn’t watch this movie…I tried..but as soon as it started I completely lost interest. My husband watched it but agreed with me when I said it was a bad movie.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 4:32 pm
I found myself flashing back to “Pulp Fiction” when I watched this movie. Didn’t know what to expect, so my expectations weren’t high. In the end, I give it a thumb’s up for action (remembering as I see the blood spattering everywhere that “it’s only a movie”). I agree with the observation that if someone goes in to this film with the thought that they’re going to see something at the level of a “Bourne” franchise film, they’re in the wrong frame of mind.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 5:01 pm
To trash John Travolta seems to me to be somewhat “un-American”!! What’s not to love about this character. The best thing since “Chili Palmer”. As for Jonathan Rhys Meyers, this was not “Henry the 8th” but an example of what a truly talented artist this kid really is. I newver imagined those two together but they really pulled it off in spades. Loved the movie, kept me in stitches! Seems a little strange for this guy to diss Liam Neeson and “Taken” as well. I also try not to miss a chance to see Neeson, Travolta, or Rhys Meyers. Maybe I just like the genuine “Bad Ass” when they are provoked type! As a matter of fact whoever the guy is that wrote this review should probably stick to Walt Disney.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Will watch this movie.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 9:54 pm
John Travolta has soo many films in the can ,most are decent to pretty good, I’ll watch it based on Travolta being in it, even if its just decent he’s easy on the eyes. Debbie
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I like Travolta. I liked this flick. It was over the top, crazy, energized and paced like it was on COKE. Oh right, it was! So see the flick and sit back with a cool one and laugh, yell and grin throughout. But I also liked Edge of Darkness, really liked Taken, Loved Boondock Saints and Really Love All Saints Day. See a theme!! In the words of Romeo, Ding Dong ………….. Ding Dong!!!!
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 10:41 pm
The only thing more contrived the the movie is Locke Peterseim’s review. It’s like watching a 1980′s MLB – Game of the Week on NBC. Joe Garagiola and Vin Skully spent more time reminiscing about the past and attempting to coin “catch phrases” than they did calling the game.
Posted on June 15, 2010 at 11:16 pm
ughhh this incompetent moron of an editor has no idea what the hell he is talking about! seriously “Locke” since you know so much about what entertains us why arent you up there making a movie & getting millions? oh thats right bcuz you wuldnt be near as good as john travolta. your just miserable because you have no real job nad your stuck behind a computer rating movies for a company that only charges $1 for movies that people play $11 to see…seriously get a life. this movie waz halariously awesome & travolta made it that way Locke…step up your reviewing skills and then we”ll talk!!!
Posted on June 16, 2010 at 12:10 am
lame. too much like denzel in his bad guy role for which he won an oscar. a travesty.
Posted on June 16, 2010 at 1:10 am
I will watch anything with John Travolta or Steven Seagal in it. This was just good fun. Relieves the stress, to be able to watch something where for once, I don’t have to think but, can just relax with popcorn and enjoy. And, I did. I loved every minute of it, for me, it had no bad parts.
Posted on June 16, 2010 at 1:12 am
ps. I caught that Royale with cheese, too. Loved it. And, I hope there is a sequel.
Posted on June 22, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Sadie…your just a MORON.
Everybody will have a different opinion about this film. Being so rude just makes you look like a uneducated child. Grow up.