2 Days in Paris – 3.5/5
For actress Julie Delpy to return to ground so close to her biggest hit Before Sunrise for her debut as director (she also wrote the script) is either a bold move or a lazy one. Again we have two people – one American, one French – walking round Paris whilst discussing life, politics and, mostly, relationships. However, it’s the difference which is crucial – this is a couple who are two years into their relationship and hitting an “is it worth it” crisis point.
The film is a bit of a slow starter, but when it gets going it is worth the wait. Some of the humour is much coarser than anything in Before Sunset – in fact the stay at her parents adds elements of Meet the Parents mistrust and misunderstanding. Some elements of the culture clash comedy are slightly on the predictable side, dealing in rather too broad stereotypes, but Delpy also has the courage to go places many American comedies wouldn’t. In many ways this is the antithesis of many a romantic comedy – having no concern with how the leading get together through the obstacles, but more with whether they will stay together through the obstacles inside of them.
Like Before Sunrise, there is philosophising and political commentary, but here it can almost be seen as a smokescreen to avoid dealing with the reality of the relationship. Delpy also has the courage to make her leading characters not all that likeable at times – her own heroine being a rather flirty lady with anger management issues, whilst Adam Goldberg’s whiny hypochondriac has the potential to alienate. But strong performances, especially from Goldberg (an actor who has had bit parts in so many movies, but is probably best known as Chandler’s stalker flatmate from Friends), make sure they are never less watchable.
Things are brought to a surprisingly poignant conclusion via a bizarrely surreal (but hilarious) subplot involving Goodbye Lenin’s Daniel Bruhl – his conversation with Goldberg in a fast food restaurant is one of the film’s highpoints.
It’s a good, unusual and somewhat quirky first effort from Delpy, which ends up being rather more meaningful than the average rom-com.
For actress Julie Delpy to return to ground so close to her biggest hit Before Sunrise for her debut as director (she also wrote the script) is either a bold move or a lazy one. Again we have two people – one American, one French – walking round Paris whilst discussing life, politics and, mostly, relationships. However, it’s the difference which is crucial – this is a couple who are two years into their relationship and hitting an “is it worth it” crisis point.
The film is a bit of a slow starter, but when it gets going it is worth the wait. Some of the humour is much coarser than anything in Before Sunset – in fact the stay at her parents adds elements of Meet the Parents mistrust and misunderstanding. Some elements of the culture clash comedy are slightly on the predictable side, dealing in rather too broad stereotypes, but Delpy also has the courage to go places many American comedies wouldn’t. In many ways this is the antithesis of many a romantic comedy – having no concern with how the leading get together through the obstacles, but more with whether they will stay together through the obstacles inside of them.
Like Before Sunrise, there is philosophising and political commentary, but here it can almost be seen as a smokescreen to avoid dealing with the reality of the relationship. Delpy also has the courage to make her leading characters not all that likeable at times – her own heroine being a rather flirty lady with anger management issues, whilst Adam Goldberg’s whiny hypochondriac has the potential to alienate. But strong performances, especially from Goldberg (an actor who has had bit parts in so many movies, but is probably best known as Chandler’s stalker flatmate from Friends), make sure they are never less watchable.
Things are brought to a surprisingly poignant conclusion via a bizarrely surreal (but hilarious) subplot involving Goodbye Lenin’s Daniel Bruhl – his conversation with Goldberg in a fast food restaurant is one of the film’s highpoints.
It’s a good, unusual and somewhat quirky first effort from Delpy, which ends up being rather more meaningful than the average rom-com.
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