Film review: Midnight in Paris

Published on Wednesday 11 May 2011 17:53

Midnight in Paris *** Directed by Woody Allen starring: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Adrien Brody, Carla Bruni

WOODY Allen's recent track record meant expectations were not high as journalists queued yesterday for the first press screening of his Cannes Film Festival opener.

Low expectations, however, were not the reason for the warm applause that broke out during the closing credits. The film's affectionate regard for the Paris of today and yesterday, an appearance in a small but (adequately acted) pivotal role by France's first lady, Carla Bruni, and the French love for Allen all contributed to its selection as the event's curtain-raiser.

After a series of stumbles - most of them made in London - the cleverly scripted and enjoyably cast Midnight in Paris is easily Allen's best film since Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Owen Wilson takes the Allen alter-ego role of Gil, a Hollywood hack who aspires to be a serious novelist. Like Allen, who says he regretted not staying in Paris after filming What's New Pussycat? there, Gil regrets not moving to Paris after his first visit in his twenties. Returning there on a trip with his down-to-earth fiance (Rachel McAdams) and her disapproving parents, he falls in love with the city - and its romantic artistic associations - all over again.

While walking the city streets alone one night, Wilson is transported back to the Paris of the 1920s. Thereafter, Allen has fun having his bemused protagonist bump into a gallery of literary and artistic icons-in-the-making, such as Picasso, Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, F Scott Fitzgerald, Luis Buuel, Man Ray and Dal (exuberantly played by Adrien Brody), giving the director a chance to pay humorous tribute to some of his own heroes.

If Paris reinspires Gil, it seems to have done the same for Allen. He gets in a potshot at the US's actions in Iraq, while the film turns out to be far funnier than the limp trailer hints at.

With Midnight in Paris, Allen may convince even those who have given up on him that there's life in the old dog yet.