Sassy Movie Review: Midnight in Paris

It’s a well-known fact amongst movie-goers: not all romantic comedies are created equal. Although not always super girly, it’s a genre that generally tends to sit better with girls than guys, often making it tricky to convince the man in your life to tag along with you…

But ladies, I have great news! Finally, a rom com that’s a sure fire hit (and definitely boyfriend and husband worthy)!

Directed by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris is set around Gil (Owen Wilson), a disillusioned Hollywood novelist who travels to France with his fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing parents. Swept up by the romantic charm of Paris – the place where some of Gil’s literary idols penned their best work – he becomes distant and dreamy, spending less time with Inez and more on his own. Following an after-dinner stroll around the city’s dimly-lit maze of cobbled streets, the clock strikes midnight and Gil suddenly finds himself transported back to the 1920s…

Ok, so time travel might not be your thing but please don’t let that turn you off! Midnight in Paris is the sort of film where the less you know before seeing it, the better, so I’ll ask you to trust me on this one and just go with the flow. The story really is so well-written and the quirky plot (time travel and all) makes for a fabulous 90 minutes.

The storyline is entertaining and unpredictable, and there is just the right amount of laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout to ensure this little gem doesn’t fail to impress.

The casting is spot on. Owen Wilson does a fantastic job carrying most of the film. I’ve always been a fan of his work: Zoolander, Meet the Parents and Wedding Crashers are all hilarious, however, it’s cool to see him tackle a role with a more serious tone and really pull it off. Aside from other big names like Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen and Kathy Bates, Midnight in Paris has a stack of fabulous cameos from A-listers and new-comers alike – it’s best I leave it to you to find out who they are though.

All in all it was a brilliant watch. I left the theatre smiling ear-to-ear (and with an overbearing urge to visit Paris)! Definitely one of the best movies I’ve seen this year.

4/5 stars!

Midnight in Paris opens in Hong Kong cinemas Thursday, 8 September.