From Paris With Love (2010)

Director: Pierre Morel
Writers: Adi Hasak, Luc Besson (story)
Rated: R (violence, language)
Cast: John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Kasia Smutniak

Travolta and Meyers team up for the explosive spy thriller called From Paris With Love. Travolta plays the crazy and unorthodox secret agent, Charlie Wax, who gets paired with James Reece (Meyers), an aid to the US Ambassador in Paris. A reluctant Reece doesn’t know what to make of Wax’s outrageous methods, but soon finds that they’re involved in a a very serious situation. It starts off with drug rings, then Pakistani terrorist plots, but honestly the story isn’t what’s important here.

As Wax kicks ass, shoots wild shots at impossible angles and hits every target, and blows up every block, we care less about what’s actually happening. Sure, there’s the serious elements dealing with Reece’s life and his love for his girlfriend that give the film a more serious tone, but most viewers will just want to see Travolta blow stuff up. It’s no surprise the director also did last year’s Taken, as this film exhibits the same high-octane shoot ‘em up action, but this time there’s much more comedic aspects. From Paris With Love is a fun, over-the-top actioner that’s an exciting ride from start to finish.

It might not be the most original story, but Travolta is entertaining in a role we’re not used to seeing him in and Meyers is excellent playing the more serious role to balance out Wax’s antics. For fans of non-stop action flicks with a story just interesting enough to keep you involved, From Paris With Love will not disappoint. Oh, and as a Pulp Fiction fan I loved the “Royale with Cheese” bit.
IMDb/trailer | Official site