From Paris with Love
26/08/17 Filed in: Amazon Prime
After playing 18 holes of golf on Friday, in very warm conditions, I wanted just to relax in front of the TV in the evening, watching something that wasn't too demanding. A search of Amazon Prime revealed From Paris with Love, and the synopsis seemed to fit the bill exactly. John Travolta plays Charlie Wax, a foul-mouthed instrument of death and mayhem, who is assisted by James Reese, a personal aide to the US ambassador in Paris. But we're jumping ahead a bit.
Reese is a very able aide, but he hankers for a more exciting role and doubles as a low-grade CIA operative. He's constantly asking his minder for more challenging tasks, stapling a surveillance bug under a desk, after failing to stick it with chewing gum not actually cutting the mustard for him. On the personal front, he has a beautiful French girlfriend, Caroline.
His wish is granted when he's asked to go to the airport detention centre where Wax is being detained over an argument about bringing cans of energy drink into the country. Wax is ferociously verbally abusing the custom officials and despite Reese's suggestion that similar drinks could easily be bought in Paris, Wax won't back down. A bit of diplomatic privilege finally breaks the deadlock. When they get in the car the reasons for Wax's attachment to the cans of drink becomes clear, and it isn't because he likes the taste.
Ostensibly Wax is in town to track down a drug ring and he is very quickly into the action. A Chinese restaurant turns out to be a front for the drug dealers and Wax makes short work of the staff, allowing one to escape to lead them to those further up the chain. Before leaving the restaurant Reese is asked to hold a large vase, which is promptly filled with cocaine that pours from holes in the ceiling after it is perforated by Wax's handgun. Reese proceeds to carry this vase around in a laughable manner as they now pursue terrorists linked to the drug trade. The mayhem and killing steps up as Wax dispatches all comers, with Reese helping out with a bit of Mandarin translation and little else. They ultimately track down the terrorists who, like all before them, stand little chance against Wax. But the duo learn that there is a plot against the US Embassy and unexpectedly find photographs of Reese pinned to the wall in the terrorists' apartment.
The connection between Reese and the terrorists is eventually revealed, which comes as a bit of a surprise, and leaves Reese shocked and confused. But he starts to put two and two together and realises how the attack on the Embassy will be carried out. Meanwhile Wax is chasing the terrorist leader, which treats us to a very well choreographed high-speed car chase. A professional driver is at the wheel while Wax is the passenger trying to stop the terrorist's car, which is heading to intercept a US motorcade. He succeeds in a spectacular manner.
Back at the Embassy, Reese is trying to stop a bombing, not helped by the secret service men who initially try to bar his entrance, and who distrust his presence intently. He is presented with a terrible dilemma, and the moment that will decide whether he really is special agent material. As Wax arrives and watches on, Reese must make a split second decision that will change his life and save the lives of the people around him. Can he do it?
I enjoyed this film, ridiculous as it is. Most of the critics seem to suggest that the film editors deserve most of the credit for making John Travolta look like a nimble martial arts master, whereas he's anything but. But fantasy is all part of film making.
The connection between Reese and the terrorists is eventually revealed, which comes as a bit of a surprise, and leaves Reese shocked and confused. But he starts to put two and two together and realises how the attack on the Embassy will be carried out. Meanwhile Wax is chasing the terrorist leader, which treats us to a very well choreographed high-speed car chase. A professional driver is at the wheel while Wax is the passenger trying to stop the terrorist's car, which is heading to intercept a US motorcade. He succeeds in a spectacular manner.
Back at the Embassy, Reese is trying to stop a bombing, not helped by the secret service men who initially try to bar his entrance, and who distrust his presence intently. He is presented with a terrible dilemma, and the moment that will decide whether he really is special agent material. As Wax arrives and watches on, Reese must make a split second decision that will change his life and save the lives of the people around him. Can he do it?
I enjoyed this film, ridiculous as it is. Most of the critics seem to suggest that the film editors deserve most of the credit for making John Travolta look like a nimble martial arts master, whereas he's anything but. But fantasy is all part of film making.