A romantic comedy about a family traveling to the French capital for business. The party includes a young engaged couple forced to confront the illusion that a life different from their own is better.
Before I walked into Midnight in Paris I was excited for two reasons. The first simply being the reviews have been phenomenal and touting it as Woody Allen’s best film in years. The second came as a surprise to me; looking over Allen’s work, I realized that despite having directed over 40+ films, this would be the first one that I will have watched. It amazes me that I have somehow never come across one of his films before. It is a shame then that the first look into his work is one I had a hard time enjoying.
It is not that it wasn’t a bad movie it’s just one that I don’t understand. Apparently because our protagonist Gil yearns to feel alive, he ends up traveling back into a time in Paris where all of his greatest idles flocked around parties and invite him along. Seeing these characters of history on screen were said to be great performances, but the problem was I have no idea how these characters acted. I know most of them by name and some of their work, but I am ignorant on everything but the basics. Maybe if I had known more about them I would have enjoyed it considerably more?
Even if you don’t understand the films characters, you will have no problem with Gil and his troubled outlook on life. Owen Wilson here plays his typical fast talking character, but it seems to flow with the films style. Everything is constantly moving and changing that Wilson is given a chance to thrive in the role. He kept me from feeling as if I completely wasted my time on this film. I can’t say the same for the Rachael McAdams. I love her too death and will watch anything she is in, but I have no idea how they can turn her into such a bitch that you want to physically slap her. Michael Sheen in his brief moments on screen almost made up for her character.
The film asks its audience to take a look in the past and really look hard because usually only the good things are remember making it seem like a better time in your life. It wants you to realize that living in the now is where you are and will always be so let the past influence you enough while you move forward instead of stopping to look back. If that question interests you enough you and you are a Woody Allen fan, this may garner your interest more than I. My first trip into the work of Woody Allen is disappointingly a forgettable one.
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