Wick's Review

Summary - Barely OK 2.0

How did this kitsch-fest become Woody Allen’s highest grossing movie? Paris is beautiful, oui. The lives of great artists are fascinating, oui, oui. But a cheap time-travel gimmick in service to a shopworn Woody Allen plot squanders such gifts.

The answer to its popularity must be the voyeuristic fun of spying on great artists like Hemingway and Picasso, sort of a People magazine for art history romantics, a grown-up Night at the Museum. Fair enough, just don’t call it art. For me, it nearly sank below the level of entertainment.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona it ain’t.

Acting - Barely OK 2.0

Owen Wilson makes a weak Woody Allen doppelgänger. Likable actor, poor role.

Rachel McAdams plays an unlikable character unlikably. But then this wouldn’t be the first time a smart and beautiful actress made a poor choice about appearing in a Woody Allen movie.

Two French actresses are the best performers on screen.

• Marion Cotillard charms greatly as a lovely artistic muse.
• First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, charms in a petite role as a museum guide.

Sadly the performers playing the great artists who once made Paris their home deliver impressions, not full blooded performances. Phonies, nearly one and all.

Film - OK 2.5

Woody Allen films are always kvetchy. They’re rarely this banal, uncharismatic and tedious.

Edge - Tame 1.2

Reality - Glib 1.8

Real or surreal? Appropriate question for a movie featuring Salvador Dali. Taking the movie at face value, not granting it the Wizard of Oz exemption, the answer is surreal physioreality.

1 Comment

• Wick Feb 18, 2012 11:56AM

  Regarding BrianSez’s Review
  Spot on review Bri. This movie has been wildly overpraised by the professionals.

• Feed
• Movies
• ViewLists
• NewOnDemand