FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

FROM PARIS WITH LOVE

I remember watching John Travolta when I was a kid in Welcome Back, Kotter as Vinnie Barbarino. He was this smart ass, trying to be cool kid who was completely full of himself. So it was little surprise he portrayed Tony the full of himself dancing punk in "Saturday Night Fever". I like the movie... mostly for the music and collective dance theme.

He followed that up with "Grease" and "Urban Cowboy" - following the same basic premise of being full of himself.

Sylvester Stallone grabbed him, bulked him up and cast him in "Staying Alive" the sequel to "Saturday Night Fever" - in an effort to capitalize on his moderate fame. It was a monumental bust. As was "Perfect" which followed two years later. That one failed miserably too, leaving Travolta's career in shambles.

His career was reprieved when Quentin Tarantino cast him in "Pulp Fiction" as an over the top retro thug. It worked. In large part because of Travolta's new found over-the-top persona. A persona he is sticking with to this day.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It depends on how hammy he is. In his latest film, "From Paris with Love" it works. In large part because director Pierre Morel kept the action moving, the film short and let be Travolta be full of himself...again.

Travolta is Charlie wax, a government operative who believes in killing everyone in site. H is brought to Paris to intervene in a terrorist plot against a UN delegation. He is partnered with James Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who is a more mild mannered wannabe operative who see's this as an opportunity to move up to full fledged spy guy.

Reese is more of a lover than a fighter as evidenced by his hot French girlfriend Caroline (Kasia Smutniak). She is totally into him, though she's not sure what he does.

Reese is assigned mainly to drive Wax around France while Wax kills folk. Reese is clearly over his head.

Wax is smart mouthed, confident and easily impressed with himself. A perfect fit for Travolta.

After immediately uncovering a drugs-for-weapon scheme, Wax proceeds to locate the terrorist cell that is positioned to disrupt an all important conference. Reese is basically along for the ride, though he later becomes an integral part of the plot.

"From Paris with Love" proceeds quickly but very predictably in under 90 minutes. Let me correct that statement; predictably but fun.

Meyers plays a great straight guy/second fiddle behind Travolta's over-the-top persona. A much better casting match than the recent Robin Williams/Travolta fiasco in "Old Dogs" or the Denzel Washington/Travolta match-up in "The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3". Meyers is very comfortable and even comes into his "own", as it were" during the film.

"From Paris with Love" isn't great, but it is worth a visit if you want a reprieve from the upcoming Oscar wars. --GEOFFREY BURTON

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