Rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, drug content, pervasive language and brief sexuality.
Directed by Pierre Morel (Taken)
Starring John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers
There is no love for From Paris with Love.
A low-ranking intelligence operative (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) working in the office of the U.S. Ambassador in France takes on more than he bargained for when he partners with a wisecracking, fast-shooting, high-ranking U.S. agent (John Travolta) who’s been sent to Paris to stop a terrorist attack.
This film is filled with three kinds of bombs: exploding bombs, F-Bombs, and “bombs” (aka bad jokes). There is a bunch of exploding bombs and they are all ok…nothing new or even that spectacular, just ok. There are a ton of F-bombs. You know there are times when a film is real and gritty and the language seems to bother me less. But when it comes off as fake and forced, it is almost unbearable. Finally there are so many bad jokes, bad one-liners and a bad story. Like when Travolta’s character picks up a mysterious package from a shady character only to reveal it’s the only thing he really wants in France…”A royale with cheese.” This tongue-and-cheek reference from Pulp Fiction may have made a few chuckle…but not me.
I generally like Travolta – and he looked pretty cool with the shaved head and goatee (ok, so maybe I’m biased) – but he looked like a fish out of water in this role. And Meyers is really strong in the Showtime series The Tudors, but he just never got it done here.
This movie looked so good from the trailer, but I was completely disappointed…it’s a Coaster.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
The language and violence are excessive and there are a few sexually inappropriate images (involving a woman undressing and several scenes involving hookers).
Side Note:
We don’t recommend your kids see this film. But on the occasion that they actually have already seen it, you may want to dialogue about the film with them. These questions below may be a help to you.
Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
- What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
- How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
- How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?
