An intellectual fantasy, Woody Allen style.

Rating: 7/10 (26 December 2011)

The 3½ minutes opening shot, which simply shows us various Paris sceneries with background music playing, not a word is spoken, and none was called for, was a hook of sorts; then Owen Wilson starts talking as the screen credits start rolling by on a black back-canvass and it is all about extolling how great that city is. Having been there on one of my favorite vacations, I immediately wanted to return. What Owen Wilson is uttering, are all the cliché sayings about that city. For a brief moment we might think it is Woody Allan speaking, almost. I'd like to think that Allen, in a first encounter with Wilson, for discussion about the movie, might have said 'I want you to be me', because anyone familiar with Woody Allen's work, can see that is what seems to be going on. Wilson sounds like Allen in any of his earlier work; the tone of voice, the rhythm with the sentences and even the way Wilson looks at or away from other actors with his phony smile and softly aloud sarcastic reflections. In some measure, other reviewers convey that same impression. So Wilson is excellent in his role.
The writing is genuine Woody Allen; viewers who don't care much for his style and his take on life, are warned (by this and other reviews) that it is what you'll get. The story is a very simple fantasy of a writer Gil, played by Owen Wilson, engaged to wed Inez, played by Rachel McAdams; during a trip to Paris the couple's mismatch is revealed after only a few scenes and that's when the fantasy begins. Gil encounters a slew of artistic giants of earlier generations as he slips into a dream world at a specific unknown location in Paris at the stroke of Midnight. The imaginary journey will turn off some viewers; it sparked curiosity in some of us. There is an excellent cast of characters played by actors I liked, such as Kurt Fuller, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard etc.; Carla Bruni, for those who are up on current events and international who's who, will know she is in real life, the wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic, even has a supporting role (nice touch Woody). Gil discovers what he is meant to discover, breaks up with Inez and starts a new journey we can only assume will be a better one for him. The movie rates high among viewers and critics alike; I was a little surprised about that but in a good way. I still think one has to like Allen's stuff to enjoy his movies but in this case, I may gladly be wrong. I enjoyed it and wish you all the same pleasure.