Movie Review: From Paris With Love
Monday, February 8, 2010
John Travolta fights terrorism in From Paris With Love
Courtesy of Magali Bragard & Lionsgate Films
There is a core of decency, sweetness, in John Travolta that comes through even when he’s playing a government spook who kills anyone who gets in his way and does so without ever breaking even a slight sweat. That, perhaps, is what makes From Paris With Love so much fun.
From the title that recalls vintage James Bond (From Russia With Love) to the smoothness with which Travolta’s character Charlie Wax dispatches whomever gets in his way, this is the kind of mayhem we haven’t seen since Sean Connery played 007. But, here, Travolta’s head is shaven and, rather than the ultra-suave Connery, more closely resembles Vin Diesel.
We meet Charlie when James Reese, the aide to the American ambassador to France is sent to the airport to fetch him. Wax is fighting with French customs agents who won’t let him bring in his cans of energy drink. That problem taken care of, Charlie proceeds to teach Reese how to be a counter-terrorist as he is.
Reese is played with great charm by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. HIs character seems so sharply contrasted with Travolta’s tough guy that he seems at times to follow Travolta like a puppy. But, he’s a cute, eager puppy.
The film was directed by Pierre Morel, a follow-up to his hit Taken. If it is not meant to be seen as anything but escapist fun, then From Paris With Love more than fills the bill. No time is wasted here — the action is quick, the plot moves along and the whole thing lasts 95 minutes.
That’s all good by me.
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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