2 Days In Paris
It’s genre day! As I sit here at my computer and attempt to catch up on reviewing the last few films I have watched they all seem to fit into a nice little genre. There’s “Half Nelson” a brilliant, show stopping addition into the ‘inner-city school teacher genre.’ Then there is Francois Truffuat’s classic “Day for Night” a film about the making of a film, a much abused genre. And finally we have Julie Delpy’s “Two Days in Paris” which is either a romantic comedy, a fish out of water comedy, or a Woody Allenesque romantic comedy. All combined into a delightful if messy film that is no where near the brilliance of the aforementioned films, but is quite worthy as a directorial debut for the lovely and talented Ms. Delpy.
“Two Days in Paris” is, then, the story of the two days that New Yorker Jack (Adam Goldberg) and Parisian export Marion (Ms. Delpy) spend in Paris after two weeks in Venice. The setup is clumsily narrated to us by Marion and we get a slide show of the couple’s Venice Pictures. Our first quirk; though Marion is the photographer, Jack insisted on taking a god awful amount of pictures in Venice. And of course, since he is something of an uncomfortable American, he spent a lot of time being sick. And now there will be two days in Paris before returning to New York. Jack then meets Marion’s parents Anna and Jeannot (wonderfully played by Ms. Delpy’s real parents Marie Pillet and Albert Delpy) for the first time. Fish out of water; they are frankly sexual and speak very little English. Jack and Marion’s explore Paris. Right away they meet an old boyfriend of Marion’s. Later at a party they will meet more. The language barrier only adds to Jack’s jealousy. Cute, funny, poignant perhaps conversation ensues at every angle. On the way to the party where Marion’s old (boy)friends are, they stop by her father’s art gallery. More frank sexuality and Jack’s reaction (uncomfortable). Rose, Marion’s sister, seems happy to drive a wedge between the couple.
The characters are odd and entertaining, especially Marion’s father Jeannot, who hates cars and Jim Morrison, bringing us big laughs. Predictably these two days in Paris, this encounter with Marion’s home turf, brings about a crisis. And though this review makes it all sound predictable, there is always a heart, and always an admirable mixture of comedy, thought-fullness, and very real pathos as Ms. Delpy explores the human heart from the angle of a mixed culture couple effectively. Although perhaps much more effectively on the side of her character. Marion is now French and American, and she goes back and forth between loving and loathing her city. She goes back and forth between French and English, and she goes back and forth between interesting passionate woman, and someone who is still prone to the ways of the heart. But Jack gets less play. I don’t always understand his motivations or who he is. But, as an American I do identify with his shock and surprise as he navigates a culture totally unlike his own. And the moments between a couple that both loves and hates each other are often very true. Witness Marion’s disgust at Jack’s attempts at speaking French, or the scene when Jack begs her to play out a part as Marlon Brando in “Last Tango in Paris.” And how can we forget Paris? As a setting it never fails.
Story: C+ Culture clash romantic comedy, not particulary new but to see a mixed language film in America is rare. But it’s not the story, it’s what you do with it.
Acting: B Full disclosure: I love Julie Delpy. Having said that, her parents are an awful lot of fun, but who is Jack?
Visuals: C Nothing particularly enlightening here but the story is communicated.
Originality/Innovation: D None really.
Enjoyability Grade: B Some well spoken moments, laughs, issues. I laughed quite a bit and had some level of investment in the couple when the tough times hit.
Overall Grade: B- Not bad for Ms. Delpy’s first try, a decent twist on a beaten-down genre.
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