Paris-Manhattan

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."

Alice (Alice Taglioni) is a bit of an old maid or at least those around her believe that. They are collectively working to bring the right man for a good introduction and are constantly working at facilitating romance. All the while, she has already has found her soul mate in Woody Allen whom she instates her hopes and dreams and Allen shares with her the ins and outs of life and discovering love. There are many funny Allen maxims but one that stands out is that the two most important decisions is life is one's work and sex. Full of twist of turns, you realize in Paris-Manhattan that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince or it's OK if you never find 'the one'. Life has a way of working out. This is a cute romantic comedy and fun to watch. Saw this as part of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival

I used to be French and I used to love Woody Allen - "used" because of a combination of geographical mutation and a vanishing memory... I remember seeing this movie in Sydney a few years ago, so taped it when it was on TV a few days ago. This time I watched it on my own, perhaps because I felt it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I had a wonderful time revisiting... I did not worry about expectations and really it's one's best way to approach it, not to pull it on a slab and dissect it. (the same goes for so many other movies; it supposes to be fun, and it is. I liked the originality to involve W Allen the way it is done and make a romantic and funny story out of it. I was interested to read one of the comment mentioning that years ago Woody Allen, in "Play it Again Sam", Does a similar thing when he converse with a certain "Humphrey Bogart". I would be surprised if it was just a coincidence. Although I can't say it has any other bearing on this film.

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.