From Paris with Love (2010)

John Travolta roughens his edges and waxes his freshly shaven head for a role that is more memorable than the entire film itself. Charlie Wax is self ruling, disregarding of all rules and simply one bad ass "mofo" in the explosive action spy thriller, From Paris With Love. Charlie Wax gets paired with James Reece, played by Johnathan Rhys Meyers, a more ethical, rule abiding aid to the US Ambassador in Paris. A reluctant Reece doesn't know what to make of Wax's outrageous methods, but soon finds that they're involved in a a very serious situation. It starts off with drug rings, then Pakistani terrorist plots, but honestly the story isn't what's important here.

From Paris With Love is thick in action, but paper thin in story. Most of the film keeps you caught up in action to notice how insufficient and lacking the story is. The film doesn't take itself seriously and aims to be fun, which it does very well with. There are plenty of gratuitous explosions, amusing acrobatics with rocket launchers, ridiculous amounts of single handed destruction, silver tongued lines amidst all the action leaving you giggling with pleasure and of course bullets, a surplus of smoking bullets defying all laws of gravity and reality. Sure, there's the serious elements dealing with Reece's life and his love for his girlfriend that give the film a more serious tone, but most viewers will just want to see Travolta blow stuff up.

Travolta gives us a character unlike any other seen in modern action films. While defiant and obnoxious, his character Charlie Wax is amusing even when running his mouth with every possible curse word, racial slur and quick witted response possible. The very defining factor of Wax is standout character, something lacking in many hollow action films too dependent on cgi, fast cuts and white washing studio effects. As long as Wax is kicking ass and wielding a weapon, you take his every word of dialogue as classic and memorable.

It's no surprise the director also did last year's Taken, as this film exhibits the same high-octane shoot 'em up action, but this time there's much more comedic aspects. It's even less surprising that the writer of the film has more high octane, explosive over the top action films on his resume than any other director of the last decade. To mention a few, the Cranks, Transporters, Taxis, District B13 and The Professional are some of the films that make up French born Luc Bessons resume. It's doubtful Besson is capable of making a low key, slow paced film, however, I wouldn't have his films any other way than explosions, more explosions, car chases and bullets.

Personally, Wax is what boosted From Paris With Love into re-watch-ability cult status. Seeing Travolta play an oddball character is always enjoyable, especially when he is kicking constant ass block by block. It really goes to show what he is capable of and I love nothing more than an actor who is capable and diverse. From Paris With Love is a thrill ride topped with great characters and just enough story to keep itself afloat. I highly recommend it for lovers of action, explosions and Travolta.

-SiilentMiike (SiilentMiike.com) (http://www.youtube.com/user/SiilentMiike)