This is the type of movie that when a character is in desperate need of a rocket launcher, all he has to do is push a button on the dashboard of his car and the back seat flips over to conveniently reveal one. It is also the type of movie where every action sequence is an incomprehensible collage of one-second cuts. It is also the type of movie where John Travolta has to retrieve the same worn out psychopathic caricature that we saw in films like “Face Off”, “Broken Arrow”, “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3″ & “Swordfish”.
Now, I really loved Pierre Morel’s last directorial effort, “Taken”. It was one of the best pure action films in recent memory. I believed in the ferocity and ability of Liam Neeson’s character. He never really exceeded the boundaries of what was physically possible. The same cannot be said of Travolta’s character in “From Paris with Love”. It is a far more cartoonish role that seems more suited to a video game. In fact, the entire production is a cocaine-raged orgy of poorly-executed violence and badly-written wisecracks.
The only thing that rescues it from the most dismal of star ratings is the natural charisma of Travolta, who, despite all of his flaws, is a likable movie-star that never takes himself too seriously. I also found the pace of the film brisk enough to preempt any boredom that may have set in otherwise.
So where does that leave us? “From Paris with Love” is fast-paced lunacy with Travolta on autopilot. It had elements that could have succeeded, but it was crushed beneath the weight of horrid editing and a cheesy script.
