The grass is greener in another time.

Rating: 7/10 (1 January 2012)

Midnight In Paris is a shamelessly romantic love letter to Paris, to its streets, its artistic magnetism, its famous inhabitants... This movie deserves to be seen with Paris, Je T'Aime - well, maybe as the hors-d'oeuvres.
The transition from today to yesterday was Brilliantly Sublime - taking advantage the facades of Paris which haven't changed in centuries - and without any formal cue to the audience. I was just as surprisedly invited into the past as Gil was, without special effects or tromp-d'il; I was at a loss to say if it was real or just theatrics, like slipping into a dream. I love how Gil tried to show Inez like a little kid who swears he saw fairies in the back yard.
Great opening montage of Paris. The city of lights is certainly at it best in the summer. My favorite part is Montmartre - it just feels more parisian than any other quarter.
After a while it does get overloaded with cameos. At the same time I felt like there were too many famous people (the mistake of Funny People), and then that I wasn't getting enough of each. I wanted to see more Man Ray and Hemmingway! Why wasn't there a full scene with T. S. Elliot? Art hors-d'oeuvres indeed!
I was really pleased to see Gad Elmaleh - he's a brilliant french stand-up - and I think he would have made a much better Dalí.
This was obviously a chance to make a personal dream of Woody Allen's come true - and I'm so glad he did. I loved the escapades into the 20s and even the 1890s. I wish, like Gil, that I could have stayed there. Gil's harsh present was jilting to cut back to - Rachel McAdams again plays a spoiled bitch to perfection. I'll say this - I would love to get into a magic taxi to a time without Owen Wilson. He was out of his depth and forgettable in his performance, which, by contrast, made the 20s scenes and personalities stand out even more.
If you have a nostalgic wanderlust or feel like you were born too late, this is a great vehicle to escape to brighter times. But the morale is clear - the grass is always greener in another time.