From Paris with Love (2010)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on February 3, 2010 @ tonymacklin.net.

From Paris with Love is a raucous cartoon.

You have to decide whether or not you want to take this wild ride. It's dippy, dopey, and dizzying.

The Tasmanian Devil and the Road Runner have nothing on Charlie Max, played way-over-the-top by John Travolta.

Max is a staccato killing machine, who has no morals and little sense. Travolta blusters, cavorts and grins broadly as the uncontrollable Max. He's more middle-aged, maniacal Max than his predecessor Mad Max.

From Paris with Love is an erratic buddy movie. It starts by focusing on James Reese (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), who is an aide to the U.S. ambassador in Paris and who becomes engaged to a comely, young woman (Kasia Smutniak).

Reese, young and callow, wants more espionage responsibilities, but he is relegated to minor activities, such as changing license plates.

But Reese gets his chance when agent Charlie Max comes to Paris, and he partners with him. Max takes him on a frantic, frenetic chase after Asian drug dealers and Middle Eastern terrorists.

It's a killing spree. 1,000 bodies later, the buddies have to stop a bombing, and through bleary, bloody eyes, Reese faces his moment of truth.

Director Pierre Morel (Taken) keeps his film moving so that thought never catches up. It's pretty mindless.

The lazy screenplay is by weak writer Adi Hasak from a story by Luc Besson. Hasak clumsily borrows Pulp Fiction's sandwich -- Royale with cheese. Not once, twice.

From Paris with Love is adrenaline with cheese.