2 Days in New York [DVD]

'2 Days in Paris' is a hilarious and at times poignant film. It is one of my favourite films. That said it did drag in a few places which suggests that it was slightly too long (an issue corrected in this film). It always recovered, which is what made it so memorable.

I was very concerned when Delpy announced a sequel. I then saw that Chris Rock was in it and became deeply concerned.
However, then I read an interview with Julie Delpy in which she described the loss of her mother (who played her character Marion's mother in 'Paris') and being a mother herself as being the jumping off point for this film.
It was at this point that I realised that the 'soul' of the film was intact and there was promise after all.

Essentially the story continues a few years after 'Paris' in which time Marion and Jack have had a son and since split up. Marion's mother has died and, in the midst of her grief, she has now met and moved in with Mingus (Chris Rock). Chaos ensues when Marion's widower father (played by Delpy's real-life father), sister and her ex-boyfriend show up in New York for Marion's art exhibition.

It all sounds very farcical, but believe me when I say that comedy isn't ever about the plot but about the execution. Delpy has crafted a very intelligent comedy that avoids clichés and despite a few cringe-worthy moments maintains it's European roots without pandering to Western audiences. What a breath of fresh air!

Also refreshing is to see what is essentially an American film in which people from other countries are allowed to speak their language. Times really are changing! And that is what the film is about. Relationships end, people die. Life isn't perfect and can be equally sad and hilarious, but can be over so quickly. So let's make the most of it.

Marion does her best to juggle her opening night along with culture clashes, translation losses and children confused about what 'grass' is. Not to mention a misunderstanding with a neighbour about a rogue brain tumour, a sister who refuses to put clothes on and Marion selling her soul, quite literally.

At the end of the day, this is a window into Delpy's life whether she admits it or not. Of course, some of it is fictionalised, but what we have here is a family mourning the loss of their wife and mother. At the same time the characters are becoming parents themselves and so the circle of life keeps repeating.

A comedy, yes. But watch this as a European farce and you will come away disappointed. There are laughs-a-minute but it takes a brain receiving on a certain frequency to pick up the nuances.

Highly recommended and I am sorry to see bad reviews but not surprised to see the good ones.

TS
P.S. As a side note, Chris Rock is outstanding as a straight man. In my eyes, at least, his stock has gone way up...as too has Julie Delpy's.

Very disappointing - after "2 Days in Paris." I judge the film here on its own - and not as a sequel to Paris. Paris had me expecting more from the film as a film. But the 'sequel' aspect was also poorly done and was hardly even necessary - except for maybe the sister stuff. The rest of the family totally different.

Overall it was just barely OK - had it not been I would have been asking for my money bank because the visual quality was deplorable - especially as the film is only a few years old. The transfer was probably done via a cellphone.

This is a great sequel to July Delp's 2 days in Paris, and has you literally rocking in your seat, easpecially the scenes with her (actual) father and ex boyfriend as they spend a couple of days in the Big Apple.