I do find it odd that I didn’t remember reading the book, but slowly little bits and pieces of this film seemed familiar and it struck me. The book was pretty soft chic lit, but American Girls in Paris and so worth the time it took to read.
The film, though, actually surpassed the book, which is rare in my experience. Since we were dealing with a soft text to begin with, the standard was set low, but Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts added a nice dimension to this story and the screenplay was richer for the new writing.
Visually, the film is a love letter to Paris - a gorgeous meal laid out in all it’s glory, sophisticated French women with that certain je ne sais quoi, stunning fashion and much-coveted accessories, and of course, the sophisticated French lover to buy them. I did find myself practicing my accent and yearning for a trip to the Left Bank.
But, this story doesn’t center around Roxanne - the American girl married to a French man, but rather Isabel, the American sister of the American girl, and Isabel’s own discovery of Paris, the French, their ways, and her own ways. I did find myself bristling at the tightness of the “old girl’s club” and glad to be an American girl who smiles too much, loves expensive undergarments and goes based on intuition. There is a fine balance between celebrating the poise and sophistication of French women and the impulsive, warm nature of American girls.
This movie was a great antidote for a rainy cold New York Saturday - a quick trip to Paris and a feel good movie to boot.
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Comment by testanchor655 — October 15, 2005 @ 9:32 pm