A young government employee assigned to the US Ambassador for France has ambitions of becoming a spy. He has applied for the CIA, but while waiting to be accepted, he has become a low-level operative, doing small jobs while proving his ability and worth. He is exceptional with languages, meticulous, organized and very good at chess. As an aide to the ambassador, he is trusted and invaluable. He longs to be taken seriously by the CIA, but with his bizarre pencil-thin mustache and over-eager attitude, he must appear to them as a wanna-be. It takes much more than that to be a spy.
On night while James (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is having a romantic rooftop dinner with his too good to be true French girlfriend (Kasin Smutiniak), he receives the call he’s been waiting for, an assignment, and a big one. They want him to pick up an American agent who has been detained in customs at the Paris airport. The agent, Charlie Wax (John Travolta) is loud, bombastic, and cocky as all get out. But he is the best at what he does. At first James can’t believe that this obnoxious guy is truly an agent and that he has to work with him, but using his diplomatic skills, he gets Charlie Wax through customs and their Parisian adventure begins.
If I were French, this film might offend me. Luc Besson’s story portrays Paris as a terrorist ridden city full of drug dealing Chinese, multi-ethnic hookers, street tough gang members, and Middle-Eastern money launderers. But since Luc is French himself, I guess he can get away with it. As one character puts it, “What makes you think Paris is different from any other big American city?”
I should have loved this movie more, but Paris left me unaroused. For me it just didn’t click. I’ve enjoyed other films written by Luc Besson such as Taken, Danny The Dog, The Fifth Element and the Transporter series, but this film didn’t have their style. Jonathan Rhys Meyers took too long to figure things out and looked like he wanted to cry. And John Travolta was just plain over the top. Although it was fun watching him chew scenery and lead Jonathan Rhys Meyers around, their partnership is headed for the rocks. Like most couples they don’t listen to each other, I doubt they’ll get a second date.
Rating: Rent It This couple lacks chemistry
About Me
- Melanie Wilson
- My Reviewer's Philosophy: I believe that every film has its audience. One man’s Citizen Kane is another man’s Texas Chain Saw Massacre. My purpose is to help you spend your entertainment dollars wisely. A bad review never kept me from going to a film I wanted to see, but a good review will sometimes get me to a film I never considered. As a movie lover I want you to go to the movies. When more people go to the movies, the more movies get made. But, I also believe that if you enjoy the films you see, you naturally will be inclined to go more often. So join me in supporting our film industry by going to a movie today. Hopefully I can steer you towards a good one. See you at the movies. Melanie Wilson
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