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"FROM PARIS WITH LOVE" (2010) (John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Extreme Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Heavy None Extreme None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Minor None Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action: A U.S. embassy worker -- who moonlights as a covert errand boy for the CIA -- finds himself in over his head when he's paired with a profane, take-no-prisoners American agent who shoots off his mouth as much as his gun as they try to thwart a terrorist attack in Paris. PLOT: James Reece (JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS) is an assistant to U.S. Ambassador Bennington (RICHARD DURDEN) in Paris, and has a beautiful girlfriend in Caroline (KASIA SMUTNIAK), but covertly works as an errand boy of sorts for the CIA, switching license plates on suspects' cars, planting bugs and such. He would love to become a full operative and gets that chance when he's paired with American agent Charlie Wax (JOHN TRAVOLTA) who's arrived in Paris. Just as likely to shoot off his mouth as he is any number of guns, Charlie first claims he's been assigned to shut down a drug ring responsible for the overdose of a Cabinet Secretary's niece. But as the bodies quickly start piling up, James begins to wonder if something a little more important is at play. With Caroline upset that he's off gallivanting around with Charlie, the aspiring agency operative finds himself in the middle of a dangerous mission, way over his head, as Charlie efficiently kills anyone in their way of finding and preventing a terrorist attack. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're into hard-hitting action pics and/or might be fans of anyone in the cast, they could be interested. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For strong bloody violence throughout, drug content, pervasive language and brief sexuality. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: Considering what occurs in the film (deadly violence, casual sex, drug use, treachery, strong profanity, etc.) it's not likely that many if any parents would consider any of the major characters as good role models. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this R-rated action film. Profanity consists of at least 61 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue is present, while an off-screen casual sexual encounter is briefly heard, a woman strips down to her underwear to change clothes, off-screen sex is implied, and nude mannequins are seen. Violence consists of a tremendous amount of deadly gunfire, other violent deaths, and brutal contact and beatings, some of which have varying degrees of bloody results. Those scenes and moments of potential peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some viewers, while the action and such might be enticing for some kids to imitate. All sorts of bad attitudes are present, as is drug content including some use. Drinking is also present, as is brief smoking. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there are flashing lights in the opening scene and later, some from gunfire. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's bouncy camerawork from time to time in the film (sometimes a fair amount). ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE James has wine. Caroline pours wine for James. Wanting James to deal with a French customs agent who won't let Charlie bring in cans of energy drink, the latter asks James why he doesn't get that other man "laid" and then also mentions a type of cigar and booze for the same effect. Miscellaneous people drink in a restaurant. Charlie tells a waiter he's interested in something one buys in kilos (meaning drugs). After a gun battle, he uses a machine gun to shoot up into a ceiling. That results in many holes from which a great deal of cocaine falls. Charlie tastes some while getting James to catch a bunch in a vase. At the beginning of all of that, James thinks Charlie is interested in drugs for himself and tells him he knows of a place he can get him some "blow." For several scenes following this one, James carries that large vase filled with coke, and spills some on the dashboard when Charlie slams on the brakes while driving. Charlie mentions the niece of the Secretary of Defense overdosing, and that he (Charlie) has been ordered to shut down the responsible drug ring (but we later learn this is a lie, although the ring does eventually lead them to where they need to be). Charlie tells a drug kingpin that he has a list of all the dealers, pimps and prostitutes related to him. Charlie snorts a little coke to "smooth the edges over" and then convinces James to do the same. He does and then later hallucinates from that, prompting Charlie to ask him if he's "high." Charlie and James go to see a drug dealer who gives Charlie a small bag of coke, but Charlie, who tastes it, says he wants more. The man states this isn't a certain city know for such amounts, with the comment heard that being caught with coke over a certain amount leads to a higher jail sentence. James then gets the hint and drops the large vase of coke he's been carrying around. The coke spreads across the floor and the armed kids working for that man then flee. Charlie brings a bottle of wine over to James' place, where they, Caroline and her friend all have some. We later see more than one bottle on the table. People have drinks at a reception. BLOOD/GORE James comes home and finds what appears to be blood on the floor outside his place, then in his place, and then up the stairs. He slowly follows that, but then finds that it's just sauce that Caroline spilled while taking dinner up onto the roof. We see varying degrees of bloody results as Charlie shoots many armed men. James waits a few floors down from Charlie on a circular stairwell. We then see a body fall down the middle many stories and slam to the floor, followed by another hitting the railing and steps (his face is bloody), while another falls down the center and hits the floor and another comes down after the sound of more gunfire. James then goes up the steps and finds two more dead and bloody guys. Goons chase Charlie and James down a stairwell and into a mannequin shop where the bad guys open fire on them, blasting the fake figures as well as walls with shots from handguns and machine guns. At the same time, Charlie shoots many of them, some with bloody results. James pummels a drug dealer's face for the engagement ring from Caroline that the dealer took from him and is now wearing, leaving the man's face bloody. Charlie shoots many thugs (with a handgun and machine guns), killing most of them, with varying degrees of bloody results. At the same time, James encounters and aims his gun at another thug, but can't shoot him. Instead, the desperate thug pulls the handgun to his own mouth and pulls the trigger, committing suicide (with bloody results on him, the wall behind him, and splatter all over James' face -- that he later washes off). James' shirt is bloody after he's been shot in the arm. After a car explodes we see a mannequin's head on the road, as well as what might be a human head next to that. We see a small but bloody bullet hole in a woman's head right after she's shot, followed by a little blood running from that. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE All of the terrorists, drug dealers, pimps, thugs and such, as well as those working for them, obviously have bad attitudes. Charlie is verbally abusive to French customs agents. About some Asian thugs they've encountered, James wonders how many more Charlie thinks there might be, and Charlie replies about a billion based on the last census. Charlie refers to an Arab (who's not present) as a "raghead." Knowing if they alert the police -- who are about to open a door rigged with bombs -- that will result in them (Charlie and James) being unable to pursue the terrorists, Charlie orders James not to let them know what's in store. James tries to anyway, but is too late, with the resultant explosion blowing them and him back (he's okay but dazed, while they're presumably killed). FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. James comes home and finds what appears to be blood on the floor outside his place, then in his place, and then up the stairs. He slowly follows that, but then finds that it's just sauce that Caroline spilled while taking dinner up onto the roof. Various kids hold guns on Charlie and James, while their adult leader holds his on Charlie. The latter quickly turns the tables, grabs the guy, and then holds the gun to that man's head, resulting in a brief gun standoff. Charlie chases a female terrorist across various rooftops and such, sliding and jumping from one to another. At one point, he jumps across an opening and just makes it to the other side from which he briefly dangles. James tries to find a suicide bomber before she detonates herself at an important function. He's detained several times trying to get inside, and then finds many people dressed identically to the suspect. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Machine Guns/Bazooka/Explosives/Switchblade: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. We see a handgun in James' trunk. We see that Charlie smuggled his disassembled gun into France via separate cans of energy drink. Charlie mentions a certain handgun having a better smoke trail than a certain type of cigar. While starting to play chess, Charlie and James both show that they're armed. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "M*therf*cker," "M*therf*ck c*cks*cking bureaucrat," "Checkmate, m*therf*cker," "F*ck up," "What the f*ck /are you doing/does it look like I'm doing?" "F*ck yeah," "I'm totally f*cked," "Shoot the f*cker," "You do whatever the f*ck he wants," "F*ck no," "Get the f*ck down," "You're f*cking crazy," "Are you f*cking kidding?" "You stupid f*ck," "Don't you f*cking move," "I f*cked up," "F*ck, you're right," "She'll blow your f*cking head off," "Do you f*cking understand what I'm saying?" "Bullsh*t (again)," "Collect some of that sh*t," "Oh sh*t," "Tell me that wasn't some impressive sh*t," "That sh*t is strong," "Sh*t-hole," "No sh*t," "Reading and sh*t," "That's good sh*t," "Gonna go shoot the sh*t," "Self-righteous little pr*cks," "Big-t*ttied chicks," "God, I love the French," "Sucks," "Do I look like I play board games?" "Wax on, wax off," "Blow" (cocaine), "Evidence my ass," "Pard" (partner), "And get the hell out of here," "Candy ass," "I don't want these guys crawling up my ass," "Are you high?" "Hard ass," "Who the hell is he?" "Raghead," "What the hell /are you doing/are you talking about?" "Your jive ass," "Yeah boy," "Why the hell not?" "And then there were none," "Royale with cheese," "Baddest ass," "Let's par-tay," "Love's a bitch," "Oh, come to daddy," "Welcome to Paris, baby," "Bitch" and "Freakin.'" The fighting, other action and stunts might be enticing for some kids to try to imitate. As part of his assignment, James changes a license plate on a car. James repeatedly tries to plant a surveillance bug under a table via chewing gum, and eventually staples it there. We see that Charlie smuggled his disassembled gun into France via separate cans of energy drink. A man spits. We see miscellaneous graffiti in various scenes. Charlie steals a police car. Charlie chases a female terrorist across various rooftops and such, sliding and jumping from one to another. At one point, he jumps across an opening and just makes it to the other side from which he briefly dangles. An agency driver swerves through traffic at high speeds while pursuing a terrorist, all while Charlie is partially out the window, aiming a bazooka at the bad guy's car. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of suspenseful, ominous, action-oriented and heavily dramatic music plays throughout the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) One rap song briefly plays in the film, but we didn't hear anything objectionable in it. PROFANITY At least 61 "f" words (10 used with "mother"), 26 "s" words, 3 slang terms for sex ("laid" and "banging"), 2 using male genitals ("c*cks*cking" and "pr*cks"), 1 for breasts ("t*ttied"), 11 hells, 9 asses, 2 damns, 2 uses of "God" and 1 use each of "For Christ's sakes," "For God's sakes" and "G-damn." SEX/NUDITY Bennington asks James if he knows which (unseen) secretary -- the blond or brunette -- a certain man is "banging." James replies that it's both, prompting Bennington to state, "God, I love the French." Caroline strips behind James as he's seated, and we think it's sexual in nature, but she's really doing so to change into a sexy dress (although we do briefly see her in her bra, panties and high heels, and then a brief rear view while braless). The two passionately kiss, with him suggestively stating that why don't they skip dinner and go straight to "dessert" (meaning sex). She then removes his shirt, they kiss some more, and the scene ends there, but sex is implied. Caroline shows a little cleavage. James and Caroline do some passionate kissing while clothed. Wanting James to deal with a French customs agent who won't let Charlie bring in cans of energy drink, the latter asks James why he doesn't get that other man "laid." Charlie tells a drug kingpin that he has a list of all the dealers, pimps and prostitutes related to him. Various mannequins show nudity (full frontal of both sexes, with non-explicit breasts and no genitals). Charlie tells James that he's woken up with his share of "Carolines" (meaning pretty women). Charlie tells James to translate to a pimp that Charlie wants two "big-t*ttied chicks," so James mentions wanting a woman for Charlie, with the pimp jokingly asking if James is going to watch. They then go up to an apartment with a hooker (as Charlie hands James a wrapped condom, telling him to enjoy as it's ribbed), and Charlie then goes into a room with her. As Caroline happened to see them for a moment in the elevator, James says he needs to contact her as doesn't want to lose his girl as Charlie gets "laid." We then hear sexual sounds from behind a closed door, as well as objects on a shelving unit moving from contact with the wall connected to that room. When done, Charlie comes out, zipping up his pants. Charlie delivers a joking pickup line to Caroline's friend, asking what she does when she's not making men's jaws drop. That woman then sarcastically says that might work on hookers, but not her. About secret surveillance cameras having been found in James' bedroom, Charlie jokes that he hopes the latter has some good (bedroom) moves if any footage ends up on YouTube. SMOKING A miscellaneous man briefly smokes. Wanting James to deal with a French customs agent who won't let Charlie bring in cans of energy drink, the latter asks James why he doesn't get that other man "laid" and then also mentions a type of cigar and booze for the same effect. Charlie mentions a certain handgun having a better smoke trail than a certain type of cigar. TENSE FAMILY SCENES None. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Whether the CIA really operates as depicted here. Drug dealing operations. Caroline proposes to James, stating it would never happen if she waited for him. VIOLENCE Charlie grabs a waiter and slams his head to the table, followed by holding his gun to that man's head. He then proceeds to shoot many armed people who come out of the woodwork, wounding or killing all of them, all while avoiding gunfire returned via handguns and machine guns. Some of that impact has bloody results, while Charlie uses the hot muzzle of his handgun to burn the first man's face to get him to talk. Some gang members approach Charlie and James carrying baseball bats. One then pulls a switchblade on Charlie who quickly disarms and strikes that man. He then jabs the blade into a second man's neck, breaks the neck of a third, and proceeds to bash the rest with a bat, etc. James waits a few floors down from Charlie on a circular stairwell. We then see a body fall down the middle many stories and slam to the floor, followed by another hitting the railing and steps (his face is bloody), while another falls down the center and hits the floor and another comes down after the sound of more gunfire. James then goes up the steps and finds two more dead and bloody guys. Goons chase Charlie and James down a stairwell and into a mannequin shop where the bad guys open fire on them, blasting the fake figures as well as walls with shots from handguns and machine guns. At the same time, Charlie shoots many of them, some with bloody results. Two men burst into a room, knock James to the floor and proceed to kick and then punch him repeatedly, all as Charlie observes others outside. Charlie eventually realizes he must do something and thus shoots and kills those two attackers. James pummels a drug dealer's face for the engagement ring from Caroline that the dealer took from him and is now wearing, leaving the man's face bloody. Charlie shoots many thugs (with a handgun and machine guns), killing most of them, with varying degrees of bloody results. At the same time, James encounters and aims his gun at another thug, but can't shoot him. Instead, the desperate thug pulls the handgun to his own mouth and pulls the trigger, committing suicide (with bloody results on him, the wall behind him, and splatter all over James' face -- that he later washes off). Charlie throws a belt of plastic explosives out a window and down onto a car containing at least 3 terrorists, killing all of them with the resultant explosion. Knowing if they alert the police -- who are about to open a door rigged with bombs -- that will result in them (Charlie and James) being unable to pursue the terrorists, Charlie orders James not to let them know what's in store. James tries to anyway, but is too late, with the resultant explosion blowing them and him back (he's okay but dazed, while they're presumably killed). Charlie backs a police car into a parked car that then rams back into James' SUV that then explodes (empty). Realizing a woman is a terrorist, Charlie suddenly shoots her dead, while another woman shoots James in the arm and fires at Charlie. An agency driver swerves through traffic at high speeds while pursuing a terrorist, all while Charlie is partially out the window, aiming a bazooka at the bad guy's car. During this, the bad guy hits another car, and later causes more crashes, all as Charlie tries to get a shot. The driver eventually goes up an embankment to a bridge and spots the terrorist headed straight for an important U.S. figure in her motorcade (we see him prepping a bomb inside his car for impact). Charlie then fires his weapon and the bad guy's car explodes. Security personnel aim their handguns at James who's aiming his handgun at a terrorist who's rigged with a bomb vest. He tries to talk her out of doing anything, but as she makes the motion to detonate herself, he delivers a fatal shot to her head, killing her (Charlie catches her body from behind and deactivates the bomb). Reviewed February 2, 2010 / Posted February 5, 2010

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