PRINTMovie Review: From Paris With Love
Courtesy of Lions Gate Films
Jonathan Rhys Meyers and a bald John Travolta play spies in this over-the-top action flick.
February 6, 2010 | 11:00 a.m. CST
While the line to see Dear John was out the door, the theater showing Pierre Morel’s latest film was nearly empty. Yet From Paris With Love was a gun-blazing gem presenting a bald, buffed-up John Travolta in what must be his most bizarre-yet-crowd-pleasing role yet. Notice the hyperbole, please.
Travolta, aka “Wax,” is an unconventional secret agent out to save the day alongside his less trigger-happy partner, played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Throughout the movie, Travolta splits his time among dodging bullets, kicking some tush and enjoying such iconic French pastimes as Parisian whores and Royales with cheese.
Related LinksThis tour de force includes all the must-haves in any action thriller: hot women, car chases, a few mild sex scenes, ignorant cultural stereotypes, guns and gore galore and, of course, the requisite bazooka in the back seat of a car. And the plot is simple enough: Stop the terrorist.
Of course this movie is bad, but the clichéd, predictable French jokes and memorable one-liners, including “Welcome to Paris, baby,” make this a must-see. Never mind if on the fan-based movie review site, Rotten Tomatoes, the movie only managed a 33 percent freshness rating. This film is full of tantalizing scenes.
Clearly, when you have Travolta arguing with French customs agents over a bag full of energy drinks and throwing scores of Asian drug traffickers down a stairwell, you can be sure you’re going to get your money’s worth.
Laughs, chuckles and sighs of disapproval abound. Seriously, go see this. You won’t be sorry. Thank you, John Travolta.
Vox Rating:
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