stephskie67's Movie Review of Midnight in Paris (2011)

Classic Woody on Romanticism & Relationships -
stephskie67 - wrote on 04/13/13

If this movie doesn't make you want to up sticks and move to Paris instantly, you must be as dead as a cold dead fish that's been dead for a really, really long time. The beautiful imagery of the Parisian streets, lights, bridges, markets, monuments, cafes, bars and even the muddy Seine itself seem to explode with vibrancy and colour (especially in the rain). Owen Wilson plays Gil, a troubled and insecure writer trying to escape from the grind of rolling out formulaic Hollywood scripts so that he can use his writing talents in a more edifying way. His fiancée, Inez (played by Rachel McAdams), is not particularly supportive of his desired career change (nor of him in general it seems) and her 'one-dimensional' parents are openly dismissive of Gil and are generally the kind of people that Woody Allen despises and is not subtle in the least about showing it!.

Gil and Inez end up in Paris, tagging along with Inez's parents and Gil falls totally in love with Paris. The more enamoured he becomes, the more apparent the differences between him and Inez become. This movie very cleverly (but rather blatantly) exposes the great rift between 'romantics' and 'materialists' ; 'dreamers' and 'realists'. Gil's obsession with Paris in the 20s leads him to question his modern life and drift back to the nostalgia of an age long past. One questions whether Gil is deluded by his romanticism and is just 'trying to be happy' - seeking the things he loves, the era he loves, the authors, painters and literary figures he loves but it really doesn't matter because this movie is touching, sumptuous in its portrayal of Paris, and Owen Wilson so perfectly captures the Woody Allen-esque character of a slightly troubled man who is not always in his comfort zone around his peers. In fact Wilson's portrayal of Gil and his acting out of many of Allen's gestures and foibles is subtly and brilliantly done yet all the while he manages to maintain his unmistakable 'Wilson-ness'.