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February 10, 2010

Check logic at the door for 'From Paris With Love"

It's been 16 years since "Pulp Fiction" revived John Travolta's career — and 16 years since the last time John Travolta did a great movie.

"From Paris With Love" certainly does nothing to break that long streak of mediocrity, but at least it's a step above the dreck he has frequently associated with in recent years ("Old Dogs" and "Wild Hogs" — what was he thinking?).

Written and produced by French action maven Luc Besson ("The Fifth Element"), "From Paris With Love" is a stylish popcorn thriller. It sets a fast and furious pace but checks all logic at the door.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("Match Point"), complete with cheesy mustache, is the supposed lead character, James Reece. An assistant to the U.S. Ambassador who is actually an extremely low-level government spook, Reece longs for more important spy stuff to do. But he isn't quite prepared for the assignment when it comes.

The job is to pick up and drive around the agency's top operative, Travolta's Charlie Wax — a no-holds-barred, no-rules, bottom-line, burn-the-book, drug-using, hooker-loving type of a guy with a shaved head, a devilish goatee and an extremely itchy trigger finger.

Wax's action hero is the antithesis of Reece's intellectual, of course, so the two have to engage in comic male bonding while amassing an impressive body count in and around the streets of Paris.

Travolta seems to be having an obvious ball playing the part of Wax, and he gives it the completely over-the-top treatment, somewhat similar to his characters in "The Taking of Pelham 123" and "Face/Off." The result is goofily entertaining.

Rhys Meyers holds up for the most part as the straight man, and Kasia Smutniak has some good scenes as his sexy fiancee, Caroline, but Travolta is the only real reason to watch the movie.

Directed by Pierre Morel ("Taken"), the film does have several well-crafted action scenes and features plenty of carnage (not to mention one very clear "Pulp Fiction" joke).

"From Paris With Love" is an interesting diversion. Try not to take it too seriously.

Rental Recommendation: Travolta was pretty good — and a little touching — in the warm-hearted film "Phenomenon." Grade: B.

E-mail Steve Ouellette at: ouellette1918@gmail.com

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