John Travolta’s head is bald. He’s wearing a soul patch that looks like it was glued on in a hurry, and he’s screaming about a "Royale with Cheese" while dual-wielding pistols in a Chinese restaurant. This isn't a fever dream; it’s the chaotic heart of From Paris with Love, a 2010 action flick that basically serves as a masterclass in "they don't make 'em like this anymore" filmmaking.
When people talk about the movie From Paris with Love, they usually fall into two camps. You’ve got the critics who, back in the day, called it "loud" and "unrefined," and then you’ve got the fans who realize that Pierre Morel—the guy who directed Taken—was essentially trying to turn an old-school buddy-cop formula into a nitro-burning drag racer. It’s messy. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s a bit of a relic of that mid-2000s Luc Besson production era where the plot was secondary to how many things could explode in a ninety-minute runtime.
The Weird, Wonderful Chemistry of Wax and Reece
Let’s look at the setup because it’s a classic trope flipped on its head. You have Jonathan Rhys Meyers playing James Reece. He’s a low-level CIA operative, basically an aide to the U.S. Ambassador, who spends more time moving chess pieces and planting bugs than actually getting his hands dirty. He wants "in." He wants the excitement. Then, enter Charlie Wax.
Travolta plays Wax like a man who has forgotten the meaning of the word "subtlety." He arrives in Paris and immediately gets detained for trying to smuggle his favorite energy drink through customs. It’s ridiculous. It's also the perfect foil for Reece’s straight-laced, nervous energy. What most people get wrong about this movie is thinking it’s a serious political thriller. It isn’t. It’s a cartoon with live ammunition.
The dynamic works because it’s deeply lopsided. Reece is terrified. Wax is eating a burger while a gunfight breaks out around him. There is a specific scene involving a vase full of cocaine—yes, a literal vase—that encapsulates the sheer absurdity of the script written by Adi Hasak and Luc Besson. It’s fast. It’s frenetic. It’s kinda brilliant in its own dumb way.
Why the Action in From Paris with Love Still Holds Up
Pierre Morel has this specific "EuropaCorp" style. If you’ve seen District 13 or Taken, you know the vibe. The camera is always moving, but unlike the "shaky cam" that ruined a lot of 2010s action cinema, you can actually see what’s happening here. The fight choreography is crisp.
The raid on the apartment complex is a standout. It’s a vertical set piece where Wax clears floors like he’s playing a video game on easy mode. We see a transition from the romanticized, postcard version of Paris to the grimy, industrial underbelly that tourists never see. This wasn't the Paris of Emily in Paris. This was a city of back alleys, sweat, and high-stakes counter-terrorism.
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Most action movies now feel sanitized. They’re built for PG-13 audiences and international box office safety. From Paris with Love was unapologetically R-rated. It had an edge that felt dangerous. When Wax discovers that Reece’s girlfriend, Caroline (played by Kasia Smutniak), isn't who she says she is, the movie takes a dark, sharp turn. It stops being a fun buddy-cop romp and becomes a desperate race to stop a suicide bombing. That tonal shift is jarring, sure, but it keeps you from getting too comfortable.
The Problem with the "Besson" Formula
We have to be real here: the movie isn't perfect. Luc Besson has a habit of using certain tropes that haven't aged particularly well. The depiction of ethnic neighborhoods in Paris and the "terrorist" archetypes are, to put it mildly, very much of their time. It’s a blunt instrument.
Critics like Roger Ebert gave it two stars, complaining that the movie was "too much" of everything. But maybe that was the point? In a landscape of over-explained lore and cinematic universes, there is something refreshing about a movie that says, "Here is a guy with a gun. He’s the good guy. There are the bad guys. Watch what happens." It doesn't ask for your emotional investment in a ten-movie arc. It just wants your attention for two hours.
Behind the Scenes: The Travolta Transformation
John Travolta was coming off a weird string of movies when this dropped. He needed a win. While From Paris with Love wasn't a massive domestic box office hit—it earned about $52 million against a $52 million budget—it found its second life on DVD and streaming.
Travolta actually shaved his head for the role, a look he eventually embraced in his real life years later. He reportedly loved the character of Wax because it allowed him to be "unhinged" in a way his more dramatic roles didn't. He’s chewing the scenery, but he’s doing it with such charisma that you can't really look away. Even the way he handles the weapons—Morel insisted on a certain level of tactical realism, despite the over-the-top plot—shows that Travolta put in the work.
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The Ending That Actually Had Stakes
Most action movies end with the hero saving the girl. This movie doesn't do that. It forces Reece to make a choice that actually carries weight. When he has to kill the woman he loves to save a room full of diplomats, it’s a grim moment. It strips away the "Wax" bravado and shows the soul-crushing reality of the world Reece thought he wanted to join.
That final scene at the airport, where Reece and Wax play one last game of chess, is a quiet beat in a movie that has been screaming for 90 minutes. It’s a rare moment of character growth. Reece isn't the wide-eyed kid anymore. He’s a guy who has seen the cost of "the game."
How to Watch It Today
If you’re going to revisit From Paris with Love, you need to go in with the right mindset. Don't look for a deep commentary on geopolitics. Look for the craft.
- Watch the background: Morel hides a lot of small details in the Parisian streets.
- Pay attention to the sound design: The gunshots in this movie have a specific "crack" that feels more visceral than your standard Marvel movie "pew-pew."
- Observe the pacing: It’s a masterclass in the 3-act structure. It hits the ground running and never really stops to catch its breath.
Practical Insights for Action Fans
If you’re a fan of this specific sub-genre—the "American in a European City" action thriller—there are a few things you can do to get more out of your viewing experience.
First, compare it to Morel’s other work. If you watch Taken and then this, you can see the evolution of his style. Taken is lean and mean. From Paris with Love is the "bigger, louder" sequel in spirit, even if the stories aren't connected.
Second, look into the production history of EuropaCorp. This studio was a powerhouse for a decade, churning out The Transporter, District 13, and Lucy. They had a specific formula: French production, English language, American stars, and high-octane stunts. Understanding that "Besson-style" helps you appreciate the movie as a specific piece of cinema history.
Finally, check out the work of Kasia Smutniak. While Travolta and Meyers get the spotlight, her performance as the "sleeper agent" is actually quite nuanced. She has to play the doting girlfriend and the cold-blooded operative simultaneously, and she pulls it off without being a caricature.
What's Next?
If you've finished From Paris with Love and you’re looking for something with a similar "high-speed" vibe, you should look toward these specific titles:
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- The Crimson Rivers (Les Rivières Pourpres): If you want more French-produced grit with a mystery twist.
- Point Blank (2010): The French version, not the American remake. It has that same relentless pacing.
- The Man from Nowhere: For action choreography that rivals the intensity Wax brings to the screen.
The legacy of the movie From Paris with Love isn't about being a "great" film in the traditional sense. It’s about the energy. It’s a reminder that sometimes, cinema is just about a bald guy with a rocket launcher standing on top of a car on a Parisian highway. And honestly? That’s enough.
To get the most out of your next action movie marathon, try watching this back-to-back with The Bourne Identity. The contrast between Bourne’s "silent professional" and Wax’s "loud professional" tells you everything you need to know about how Hollywood and Europe collaborated to redefine the genre in the 21st century. It’s a wild ride that deserves a spot on your "turn your brain off and enjoy" watchlist.