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2 Days In Paris (2007) DVD Review
2 Days In Paris (2007) DVD Credits:
2 Days In Paris (2007) Directed by:
Julie Delpy
2 Days In Paris (2007) Written by:
Julie Delpy
2 Days In Paris (2007) Cast:
Julie Delpy, Adam Goldberg, Daniel Brühl, Albert Delpy, Adan Jodorowsky
2 Days In Paris (2007) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
2 Days In Paris (2007) DVD Release Date:
5th February 2008
Our Rating: Extras Rating:

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2 Days In Paris (2007) Synopsis:

The story will portrays two days in the relationship of an extremely neurotic New York-based couple; she stars as French photographer Marion, while Goldberg plays American interior designer Jack.

2 Days In Paris (2007) DVD Review:

Marion and Jack are lovers. She’s from Paris and he’s from New York but they both live in the Big Apple. They’re on a vacation together, experiencing Europe. On their way back to the States, they decide to make one last stop and stay two days roaming around Marion’s hometown—Paris. This is the basis for Julie Delpy’s latest film, Two Days in Paris, a quirky, fresh romantic comedy that harnesses the ability to efficiently find its stride only to continuously lose and regain it.

Julie Delpy plays the French native, Marion, a most complex character that takes a great deal of thought and dissection to somewhat understand. In fact, her character is a large distraction during most of the film. Jack, played by the brilliant Adam Goldberg, is her anxious, panicked, cynical, hypochondriac-prone, hilarious, opinionated yet lost New York lover. Because of Jack’s character, Marion’s is hard to comprehend and comes off almost obtrusively bizarre. Here is a couple that is functional but all too familiarly argumentative. It has its charm but this is still not a healthy 1950s American relationship. The fact that Jack is so disconnected with Marion, and life for that matter, makes you think why she is putting up with him. She’s a very nice girl but it seems that she is often all too comfortable at the short end of the stick. This is somewhat understandable because she is French and can see through the hard-shelled veil that most American women would utterly despise. That creates some sympathy but in the grander scheme of things, Marion is treated with such contempt that you really wonder why she is sticking it out. It’s a smart idea to examine but on film, it’s overwhelming and mentally exhausting.

However, her character shifts during the two days the couple spends in Paris. It is now Marion who becomes the confrontational one while Jack is left to be the observer. And although Marion loves Jack’s wit and hard-edged thoughts, he is genuinely jarred by her “unnatural” behavior. Once in Paris, she suddenly is getting into verbal and physical confrontations with French citizens and running into too many familiar faces. Jack is forced to cope with the fact that Marion is friends with all of her ex-lovers, of which there are many. This basically is a story of Jack finding out that Marion has this hypersexual, promiscuous free-spirited side that he never knew existed.

Jack’s character has the most interesting journey. He’s a rough New York interior designer who faces an onslaught of trials while in Paris. Not only must he confront physical discomfort and the overbearing thoughts of jealousy and ignorance concerning his girlfriend, the element of culture shock plays a giant role in the two days that he spends in what is referred to as “hell.” He and Marion are staying at Marion’s parents’ house, which is small and not the least bit private. Her parents have no problem engaging in full-scale arguments despite how many people may be present. Jack finds out that Marion’s mother slept with Jim Morrison, which further pokes at his reeling mind concerning his could-be whore of a significant other. All of this in a country where he is unable to communicate or fit in.

Delpy’s writing and direction is on par. Her style is ever present and it is definitely fresh. The characters are strong independently but together they almost seem to clash. At times it’s cute and fun to watch but sometimes it is just too much. However there are a great many things she does that I enjoy. I love how the French is not subtitled so that the viewer is just as discombobulated as Jack. It works and it helps the viewer became uncomfortable and as curious as the fish out of water. The role reversals between Jack and Marion are brilliant and show how holistic they are as a couple although they seem so obscurely drawn to each other at first. It’s funny, endearing, and simply twisted at times but it is its own piece of work. Julie Delpy excels as a writer/director/composer/editor and although it’s not an astonishing film, it has its charm.

The Special Features are poorer than expected, especially in comparison to the film. There are a handful of Extended Scenes but only the one where Adam Goldberg first meets Mathieu is of substantial entertainment. The interview with Julie Delpy is enlightening but its not enough to hold its own. There could have been much more bonus material for this film but ironically, there were only two things.

Two Days in Paris is a thinking person’s romantic comedy, which is probably why many people won’t like it. I don’t even like putting it in that genre because of the presuppositions. However, it is what it is. Nevertheless, Julie Delpy delivers a film that possesses strong acting, strong storytelling, and a fresh way to tell a love story in Paris.

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2 Days In Paris (2007) DVD review written by: Bryce Carlson

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