There is a stable of actors that have maintained a great deal of credibility in my mind basically because I associate them with a period in my life where I was discovering a wide variety of films. Julie Delpy and Adam Goldberg will always bring me back to the mid 90s when I was spent my college years overdosing on all the movies I could. Goldberg was the neurotic guy in the backseat during 'Dazed and Confused.' Delpy was the adorable love interest of 'Before Sunrise.'
Neither has broken out as a major star, but both have had consistent, intriguing careers. Goldberg wrote and directed a feature a few years back, 'I Love Your Work,' for which he provided some incidental music. Now it's Delpy's turn writing, directing and providing the music for her own film (she edits, too!), Goldberg is on board as Delpy's on-screen American boyfriend.
'2 Days in Paris' opens as Marion (Delpy) and Jack (Goldberg) are arriving in Paris, and we can tell there is a bit of discomfort setting in. Jack has been taking pictures the whole trip and has been struck with food poisoning. Now in Paris, they have to stay in Marion's tiny, aging apartment, which just happens to be upstairs from her parents' home. At first, the film feels a lot like 'Before Sunrise,' with the two characters walking through Paris having discussions about love and beliefs - saying a lot but stopping short of a few difficult truths. Eventually, the story opens up as we meet Marion's parents (Marie Pillet and Albert Delpy) and sister (Alexia Landeau). There's also a handful of former lovers that seem to pop up everywhere the couple goes, including an art opening, a friend's party and a restaurant.
The plot here is pretty basic, essentially a series of episodes that keep striking the note that Jack is harboring some serious jealousy issues. Delpy's Marion narrates, firmly putting the audience's sympathies with her right off the bat. The film attempts to give Marion a flaw in her willingness to leap into arguments a bit too easily, but Delpy's performance and writing conspire to make her very endearing despite this. Jack, on the other hand isn't really drawn as a likable guy. We don't have a sense of his background like we do with Marion. Goldberg is particularly good at the sarcastic, neurotic type, but even when he jokes or has an experience that should be somewhat emotional, he's always uncomfortable. As a choice, it's valid, but it certainly doesn't help us believe what Marion sees in this man in the first place.
Thankfully, the film is full of great dialogue, great scenery, and a number of amusing sequences. As veterans of Richard Linklater's work, both performers understand how appealing a naturalistic performance can be. We can even tell that actors speaking French are doing a great job. Delpy borrows some tricks from Linklater's bag, but who can blame her?
Despite Goldberg's performance as a generally unlikable guy, '2 Days in Paris,' is still quite endearing. The film has a quirky sensibility that just mildly tweaks reality (a pinch of 'Amelie') but never takes attention away from the leads. It may just be fluff for film buffs, but that's still better than the usual lineup at the cineplex these days.