Review of 2 Days in Paris (2007) by Dave F — 01 Jun 2011

"Two Days in Paris" has enough indie street cred to fill two movies, but it's all for nothing when all is said and done. This is an unbearable, relentlessly unpleasant comedy that is a disappointing, crushing bore for star and first-time director Julie Delpy. There's nothing per se wrong with her performance here as she's attractive and always appealing, even in dreck like this and "An American Werewolf in Paris". She's not where the fault lies here. Her co-star, Adam Goldberg completely and single-handedly destroys every bit of potential, every single line of dialogue and every moment of possible romance in this picture. It's a mean-spirited, obnoxious and grating performance that starts out bad and only gets worse as the film goes along. When he's not talking (or better yet, no on-screen), you can at least enjoy the scenic beauty of Paris, but for the rest of the time this is like being on vacation with the worst person you can imagine.

I'm not sure why Delpy would want to set that tone or mood for her first time behind the camera, but it sure is unpleasant. Even the supporting characters, especially her parents, are obnoxious and unlikeable. What was she thinking? I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that "Two Days in Paris" may sound tempting, but this is one trip you may want to sit out. It's kind of like being a kid and trying to have fun while your parents are constantly arguing. The only difference is that you don't have to send time with these people.