Paris-Manhattan

I rarely watch films on planes apart from the small screen, I hate the ridiculous censors applied particularly by aircraft operated from Muslim countries. Anyway it was a long flight, I knew nothing of the film, the title I think I'd heard of, it was reminiscent of course of "Paris, Texas" so I was intrigued. A romantic comedy nice and easy. It was delightful, I was unsure whether it was a 'Woody Allen' film or not but when I discovered that it wasn't it made it even more wonderful that he appeared, little more than a cameo but perfect. I cried with joy, very sweet, light hearted and fun. If you don't enjoy it perhaps you have a wooden heart?

Alice is a thirty-something single woman living in Paris who has been obsessed with Woody Allen since she was a teenager. She lives her life through Woody Allen's words of wisdom.

Alice's parents try to find her a suitable partner, which she possibly finds while working at the family pharmacy when a local man, Victor, fits an alarm system. The film ends with Woody Allen making an appearance where he assures Alice that Victor is a great guy who is ideal for her.

Entertaining comedy. Occasionally loses its pace and in places the story could be a little tighter.

This film is about a female pharmacist in Paris who loves Woody Allen film. She attempts to change other peoples' lives using his films.

"Paris Manhattan" is quite short at only 80 minutes. Even then, there is not enough material to fill up the screen time. It drags on and on, and nothing much happens. The plot is too predictable, in that there is little Vincent and too much Victor. We don't see Alice being torn between two guys, so we know who she will choose right from the start. The constant Woody Allen references are annoying, it feels as if they made the film just for the sake of showing the filmmaker's love for the revered director. If it was not for the surprise cameo, the film would have been very bad.

Paris-Manhattan (2012), written and directed by Sophie Lellouche, stars Alice Taglioni as Alice, a 30-something pharmacist in Paris who worships Woody Allen. Alice can't find the man of her dreams. (Well, she found him, but he married her sister.) So, instead of looking for another man, she spends her time watching Woody Allen films and talking to Woody's poster, which hangs on the wall in her room. (The poster answers back, using quotes from Allen's films.)

Of course, she finally meets that man of her dreams, but she doesn't realize he's the man of her dreams. He's not sure she's the woman of his dreams either.

There are secondary plots about the boyfriend of Alice's young niece, and about whether Alice's brother-in-law is having an affair. Neither subplot adds much to the film, but they keep the movie moving forward.

In a way, I'm surprised that I enjoyed this film as much as I did. However, when you have a movie that is set in Paris, a protagonist who is strikingly attractive, who quotes Woody Allen the way other people quote the Talmud, how can you not enjoy it?

We saw this film at Rochester's Dryden Theatre as part of the excellent Rochester Jewish Film Festival. It will work well on DVD. It's worth seeing, as long as you don't expect "Hannah and her Sisters," or even "Play it Again, Sam."

You will watch the movie, and time will pass.. and the only thing you will remember is her. It's what makes this film fantasy.. no way this woman could ever go years without men constantly being on her trail. There is not a scene of which she is on-screen that you are not drawn to watch only-her... and you really don't care much at all what she is saying.. you are just there captivated.