Chris Rock and Julie Delpy in 2 Days in New York. Delpy stars as Marion in the film that she both wrote and directed. (Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures)
The French always have a way of romanticizing themselves on screen. Movies like Midnight in Paris and Moulin Rouge! bleed with self-centered satisfaction of the City of Light.
However in Julie Delpy’s 2 Days in New York, the French are far from romantic.
As a sequel to her 2007 2 Days in Paris, the film follows Mingus and Marion, a Manhattan couple whose lives takes a turn for the hectic when Marion’s rambling Parisian family visits New York for an extended stay.
Marion’s French family aren’t necessarily the world’s greatest house guests. They are loud, rude and even eat with their mouths open. In fact, the visitor’s etiquette is so deplorable, it gives Mingus, played by Chris Rock, nightmares.
Even though 2 Days in New York gives you ample reasons to hate the visiting French pests, as the end credits roll, you end up loving them.
Most of this affection comes from the quick, witty dialogue engrossed in Delpy’s polished script. The exchanges, which happen in both French and English are fast and funny.
Being family, no subject is left for dead. During one scene, while the family is enjoying their first dinner together, topics range from Mingus’ satisfaction with President Obama to the uselessness of air conditioning.
However, this sporadic style of changing the dialogue’s direction, just like Marion’s view of her family as the film progresses, wears over time to the point of annoyance.
It’s not often that we see Chris Rock on screen in a serious role. The actor has spent much of his time voicing Marty in the Madagascar animated features.
It’s nice to have Rock back on screen and his portrayal of Mingus is honest and does most of the film’s heavy lifting.
Delpy is a triple threat in 2 Days in New York as a writer, director and the female lead.
Of her three job titles, Delpy lacks the most in direction. While the writing was superb, Delpy’s camera work was lacking and flat relying mostly on the rule of thirds to get by.
Delpy also made some bad calls in terms of editing. Some scenes were cut too short and came across as chaotic.
Perhaps the film’s best performance was given by Delpy’s actual, and on-screen, father Albert Delpy as Jeannott.
Jeannott knows not a word of English but manages to take to the American lifestyle fittingly.
At the heart of 2 Days in New York is the subject of family and the ever present storyline of accepting one’s familial past. Delpy crafts a a compelling story through this channel that entertains from beginning to end.
