Five out of
Five stars
Running time:
96 mins
Brilliantly written, superbly acted and hysterically funny, this is easily one of the best films of the year.
What's it all about?
Written and directed (not to mentioned edited and composed) by co-star Julie Delpy, Two Days in Paris centres on the relationship between French photographer Marion (Delpy) and her American boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg). On their way back to New York after a trip to Venice, they stop off in Paris for two days in order to visit Marion's family (Marie Pillet and Albert Delpy – Delpy's real life parents) and friends.
However, Jack finds it difficult to communicate with Marion's parents because they don't speak any English and he gets even more frustrated when they keep bumping into Marion's overly friendly ex-boyfriends. As various secrets bubble to the surface, both Marion and Jack start to question their relationship and whether they really know each other as well as they thought.
The Good
Delpy's script is brilliantly observed, taking pot-shots at relationship issues that you simply don't see in mainstream Hollywood comedies. Similarly, the culture clash between American and European attitudes is superbly handled without ever feeling forced or reverting to tired cliches.
Goldberg and Delpy are exceptional in the lead roles and their naturalistic back-and-forth dialogue is believable and frequently hilarious. There's also strong comic support from Marie Pillet and Albert Delpy, as well as Alexia Landeau as Marion's grumpy sister and Adan Jodorowsky as one of Marion's smarmy exes.
The Great
Delpy directs with a light comic touch that recalls Woody Allen at his best and the film is packed with witty, quotable lines and hysterically funny scenes. However, the film also has an underlying honesty and a genuine point to make about how hard it is to really know somebody.
Worth seeing?
This is one of the best relationship comedies in recent memory, not to mention a remarkable achievement for Julie Delpy. Here's hoping her next film isn't far behind. Highly recommended.