Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Blistering performances.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

It's a emotional and poignant love story between two very charismatic actors,and at times both funny and intense, a clash of two cultures, American and French. I wished there was a sequel. It would be nice to see it beyond the airport scene! The scenes of Paris the location sites makes you want to grasp your passport, buy your ticket and get on the next plane to Paris. The movie shows that love can happen when most unexpected. The heart wants what the heart wants this movie amplifies this fact! the rabbit purchase did not make sense I think it takes a little more clearance to bring live animals from on country to another for example a health exam, shots, totally unbelievable.

At first I was uncomfortable with the infidelity theme. However, there are subtle clues that will enable you to put aside your Puritanical judgment and see that there are contributing circumstances and there really is a love growing between Mo and Xavier. Mo is genuine, impulsive, self-sufficient horticulturist who was divorced by her husband because he didn't love her anymore. When she becomes stranded in Paris after her plane leaves without her she thinks of Chantal, a friend from her college days who has an apartment in Paris.Xavier is a international banker caught in a loveless marriage of convenience to a reserved housewife because it was decided that it was beneficial to both of them to be in and stay in the marriage (presumably by their parents). Xavier has stayed behind in Paris while his wife and children (a boy and a girl) go on vacation until September. It turns out that Chantal has also gone on vacation until September, as Mo learns from Xavier when she mistakes his apartment for Chantal's and him for Chantal's husband. When he turns and she sees him full face for the first time, he is so gorgeous that it makes Mo catch her breath. She tells him on the spot that he has the most beautiful eyes she has ever seen. He mistakes this as a come on instead of American forthrightness. Mo leaves in a pouring rain to look for a hotel, with only the clothes on her back, since her luggage was flown on to her ultimate destination. He catches up with her with an umbrella and shows her the location of a hotel. They attempt to go out to dinner but the restaurant is closed until September. He says he will cook dinner for her and attempts to act upon her perceived come on. Mo is infuriated and accepts invitations extended by a fellow American, a musician. Xavier follows her, and she spots him watching her from a distance. We also learn that Xavier's bank is in trouble and there is a meeting of the bankers to try to gain a loan from a Saudi entity, but there is to be a week's delay in the decision, so Xavier invites one of his banker friends to dinner. His friend laughs laughs and asks why Xavier doesn't use that opportunity to spendwith Xavier's mistress, Natalie. Xavier says under his breath that Natalie left him. He accepts the friend's invitation to join his family at their château.Xavier then asks Mo if she would like to accompany him to the banker friends château and she agrees. The banker's wife makes clear that they don't like Xavier's wife. Xavier and his friends are impressed when Mo demonstrates humanity by dancing with a midget with whom none of the other women would dance and resourcefulness when the friend's daughter is injured. Mo and Xavier realize that they are in love, but Xavier is reluctant to upset his marriage. Mo books a flight back to America. Xavier, meantime, has phoned his wife to summon her back home; she asks him if the bank is as bad as ever. When she arrives at the apartment, he confesses his feelings for Mo to her, and they are shown clasping hands and his eyes scanning all around the apartment as if memorizing it. Xavier goes to the airport, asking for a ticket to New York. Mo is heading to the satellite area of the airport to board her flight for New York. She hears him call out for her to wait for him and turns and runs down the up escalator, they embrace, kiss and the movie ends, leaving us to suppose that they live happily ever after.

Karen Allen is the only reason to watch this otherwise awful movie. With the exception of "Eye of the Needle", Director Richard Marquand seemed unable to make good movies. I don't know why; he apparently was intelligent and well-educated. In spite of romantic fantasy, beautiful locations, and attention to details, the film builds from cliché. It never develops its narrative. This is not even a good soap opera.The French actor Thierry Lhermitte seems particularly wooden here, which is strange because he was excellent in "An American Werewolf in Paris", an excellent film. He cannot carry the role of a leading man. You keep waiting for someone worthy of Ms. Allen to show up. No one does.The score by John Barry sounds almost copied from classic French films. The score has a nostalgic sense that makes one think of good French cinema. The cinematography looks imitative of good French movies. Some of the images make you want to shout for something to emerge from the narrative. Even if Mr. Marquand ought to have been able to make an intelligent film, there is nothing intelligent or engaging about this mess. The only reason to watch this movie is to enjoy looking at Karen Allen's adorable smile. The high 2 I give this movie is because I had a crush on Ms. Allen back when she made this movie.

This movie isn't terrible, really. Somebody commented that Mo is the type of American Europeans snicker at. But there are those, and not necessarily Anglo-Saxon yahoos, who do not care for Frenchmen; and the Xavier character isn't going to sway them.Let's consider his stereotypical Frenchman attributes:1). Cynical - very cynical. Check.2). Reedy, underfed appearance, check, despite:3). A great appreciation of cuisine. Check.4). Lukewarm work ethic. Check. (Forget the fact he is supposedly a rich stockbroker, from watching him in the film he seems to put in ten hour workweeks.) 5). Beautiful wife, check. Despite that:6). Loose interpretation of the marriage vows. Check.7). Big sexual ego, which says an American girl owes you sex if you buy her dinner. Check.Whether Mo is a hick or not, there's no reason for her to fall for this smug European twit other than the script dictates so.On the other hand, as other male reviewers have, I did enjoy seeing Karen Allen's cute, petite body. I'll give the movie four stars; two of them are for that.