Film Review: Midnight In Paris

When 'Midnight In Paris' was recommended to me, I was told to avoid any plot points, any synopsis of the story, and especially any trailers, and if I did that I'd get more out of the film. And I really think I did. So, with those instructions in mind I am going to review the film without touching on the plot. Well, as much as possible anyway. So, this may end up being a shorter review than usual.

What I can tell you is this: Owen Wilson plays Gil, who has traveled to Paris with his fiance Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents John (Kurt Fuller) and Helen (Mimi Kennedy) on a business trip. Gil is a screenwriter who is suffering from writers block while working on his first novel, so is hoping that Paris inspires him with his work.

Not long into the trip they bump into friends of Inez in Carol (Nina Arianda), and insufferable know-it-all Paul (Michael Sheen.) Before long, Inez wants to start hanging around with them, whilst Gil wants to walk the streets of Paris to find his muse. But when midnight strikes, he finds it in a way he could never have imagined.

Wilson's Gil is a very Woody Allen character, you can easily see the man himself play the role. There's no secret that Allen loves Paris, and this is his love letter to the city. It's shot wonderfully, taking in all the sights of Paris, obvious and not, and even how it looks in the rain which is a theme that is returned to at later points in the film.

Even if it seems 'Woody-lite', Wilson is on fine form. He appears in so many below average comedies these days, you tend to forget how much of a likable presence he is on film, and this is a timely reminder. There's alsoa fantastic ensemble cast, with great appearances from Tom Hiddleston, Kathy Bates, Corey Stoll, Marion Cotillard and an amusing cameo from Adrien Brody.

But I really can't tell you any more about their appearances without going into the plot some more, which I'm not prepared to do. But I can tell you that French President Sarkozy's wife Carla Bruni has a small role as tour guide, also. She's probably the most famous woman in France, so that casting must have been quite the coup!

If the film had a downside though, is that it is incredibly predictable. There were several characters in the film where you just know where their story is going to go as soon as you see them. And in turn you know what Gil is going to do as well. It's a shame it's so in your face, but it doesn't detract too much from a wonderfully original, heartwarming and amusing film.

****
I told you it wasn't going to be a long review, but I really don't want to give the game away. The best possible way to see 'Midnight In Paris' is to not know much about it. Just take it from me that it is classic Woody Allen, and you won't regret it.