Starring: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Directed by Pierre Morel
Rated: R
Run Time: 92 mins
Genre: Action/ Thriller/ Mystery/ Crime
4 frames out of 5
The City of Lights isn’t what it’s all cracked up to be…
James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is an American in Paris… working as the personal assistant to U.S. Ambassador Bennington (Richard Durden). For a single guy, he’s living the dream – works with diplomats, has a side job doing entry level spy work and has a sexy French girlfriend that adores him. Life is good, but Reece wants more. He wants to have a large part in the world of espionage and is on the verge of getting his big break.
One night Reece gets home and finds that his girlfriend Caroline (Kasia Smutniak) has prepared an amazing meal on the rooftop of their apartment. As she’s about to propose to him, he gets the break he’s been hoping for. He’s been tasked to go pick up his partner at the airport customs and drive him around for the night. Sounds easy enough, right? Yeah. Not so much.
To Reece’s dismay, he’s been partnered up with American spy, Charlie Wax (John Travolta). Charlie is rude, crude and apologizes to no one – especially the French. As Reece drives him around from place to place, he finds himself way in over his head and has to make some difficult decisions when his personal life collides with his dream profession which makes him question it all, in addition to trying to take down a terrorist cell that wants destroy the embassy. And you thought you has problems?
When I sat down to watch this film, my expectations were low, very low. I had seen the trailers and it looked like a typical blow-em-up spy movie starring John Travolta as a bald guy/macho American spy. Maybe a throw back to one of his earlier roles in Broken Arrow or Face Off, perhaps? As the movie enfolded, I found myself having a lot of fun, truly entertained by the story and kept on the edge of my seat by the rapid paced action sequences. From Paris With Love definitely makes up for Travolta role last year in Old Dogs and restores him to cool guy status once again in my book. The character Travolta created in Charlie Wax, using offbeat masculine humor to offset the dry, serious tone of Rhys Meyers character was a perfect blend.
Things to watch for: Any scene with John Travolta in it – be on your toes…
Who should see this movie: Fans of John Travolts, Jonahan Rhys Meyers, Fans of Kung-Fu Action movies, Action Movie Lovers
See it in the Theater or Rent it on DVD: The fight scenes and clever liners that Travolta delivers makes this one to catch on the big screen. If not, this is a great movie to rent or have in your home collection.
