2 Days too many (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

2 Days too many

11:00am Friday 18th May 2012 in Film Reviews By Damon Smith

2 DAYS IN NEW YORK (15, 96 mins) *** Starring Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Alex Nahon, Owen Shipman, Talen Ruth Riley, Dylan Baker, Vincent Gallo, Daniel Bruhl. Director: Julie Delpy

Cultural stereotypes provide cheap and easy laughs in this boisterous sequel to the 2007 amuse-bouche, 2 Days In Paris.

Featuring the same larger-than-life characters, this culture-clash comedy is scatter-shot and sporadically funny, but lacks the bonhomie of its predecessor, taking pot shots at predictable targets.

The script, co-written by co-star Alexia Landeau, flows back and forth in English and French, juxtaposing miscommunications between the undernourished characters.

Crucially, the relationship between Delpy and her new on-screen partner Chris Rock strains credibility because there is scant evidence that such wildly-different personalities would ever find romance in each other’s arms.

The film bids adieu to subtlety as the script plays up the French as unhygienic, fromage-guzzling flirts who lack sensitivity or social graces.

They smoke in lifts, brazenly wander around the apartment au naturelle and keep their hosts awake with their libidinous antics.

Delpy, her real-life father and European co-stars reprise their roles with ease, while Rock looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights as his character’s life is turned on its head.

A cameo from indie auteur Vincent Gallo as himself is a wasted opportunity, which epitomises the film as a whole.

Our frustration with Marion’s loved ones flares up well before Mingus explodes, and we challenge the harried heroine’s assertion that this scatter-brained farce is “just a love story with a happy ending”.