FROM PARIS WITH LOVE: A FINE BROMANCE PACKING HEAT

Richard Stevens: I'm not your driver. I'm your partner.

FBI agent Charlie Wax: Yeah, you're the chess player. I read your file.

Richard Stevens: You play?
FBI agent Charlie Wax: Do I look like I play board games?

From director Luc Besson, we are presented with a sassy, bang bang,  testosterone filled romp through Paris; a love story of a different sort. Meet Richard Stevens (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who lives and works in Paris as an aid to the US Ambassador. But when he grows up, he wants to be a special agent; a secret special black-ops agent. He has been given mysterious assignments little by little and he follows orders like a good soldier without asking too many questions. Them like Sidney Poitier at a dinner party, agent Charlie Wax (John Travolta) drops by. Wax is everything that Stevens is not and then some.  Right off the bat he is one tough motherfucker. I use that term because that is his favorite word and comes out of his mouth at a high rate of speed. He, in his bald glory, is about as bad ass as they come.

At first his actions seem egocentric and nonsensical, but after a bit into the movie, both we and Stevens discover there is more in that bald head than meets the eye. Besson knows how to deliver a good shoot em up, bad ass, bang bang movie. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and there is never a dull moment. The car chases and shoot out scenes are well choreographed and pushes the envelope. Be sure to watch the DVD extras on the making of the scenes. The dialogue is sharp, full of cursing and the cloak and dagger stuff is well done. Both Travolta and Meyers deliver. Each is secure in their character but they also are able to show growth and insight in between the shoot outs and chases. It is an unusual combination of a smart film and an engaging, thrilling one. The hamburger was a bit over the top, but it was done with a wink and a smile and all is forgiven. I loved it!