‘2 Days in Paris’ feels too similar to ‘Before Sunrise’ films
Julie Delpy is a rightful auteur. The French actress has never followed the company line when it comes to her film projects, and with Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater, she has made some of the best romantic comedies Hollywood has ever seen. In 2007, she ventured into semi-new territory with 2 Days in Paris, a film she wrote, directed and starred in. Although much of the dialogue is clever, and Adam Goldberg and Delpy make an interesting on-screen couple, the film feels too similar to the Before Sunrise catalog. I was half-expecting Hawke’s Jesse Wallace to materialize.
Plus, comparisons between the two films are inevitable. The characters in 2 Days in Paris don’t stand a chance against the glorious creations in Before Sunrise.
The premise to the movie is simple: Marion (Delpy) and Jack (Goldberg) head of from New York City f to Paris to meet Marion’s parents. They’re relationship is in need of some European energy, but the trip is anything but easy. Jack runs into Marion’s ex-boyfriends, and both find each other’s company somewhat stressful. Along the way, there are several laugh-out-loud one-liners (2 Days in Paris is much more of a comedy than a romance), and both lead actors are able to sell the comedy bits with gusto.
Except for Marion and Jack, there are few characters worth remembering. And with a running time of 96 minutes, there’s not much time to explore the universe around this couple. Although, it would be noted, I rather enjoyed Albert Delpy’s turn as Marion’s father, Jeannot.
As an actress, Delpy is original and vibrant. As a writer, she’s adept at carving out realistic dialogue between bantering lovers. Still, the conversations in 2 Days in Paris feel a little too writerly, as if they are the product of too much thought rather than pure instinct. Call it the Diablo Cody effect.
Goldberg’s comedic background sometimes feels like a liability for the movie; his constant complaining can come across like a stand-up routine. There’s never a sense that Marion and Jack are meant for each other, and that’s a real problem in a romantic comedy where finding that spark is the main plot point.
There’s not much to 2 Days in Paris; however, the film is a nice introduction into how a couple is able to deal with the stress of family visits and unpleasant discoveries about one’s past lovers. As a film intended to flex Delpy’s creative muscles, it satisfies. Beyond that, audience members may want to catch one of the three Linklater-Delpy-Hawke films, where the conversations and characters are more interesting.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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2 Days in Paris
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2007
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Written and directed by Julie Delpy
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Starring Delpy and Adam Goldberg
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Running time: 96 minutes
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Rated R for sexual content, some nudity and language
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Rating:
