The plot that follows this team up is completely inconsequential. I know it involves terrorists, drugs, a potentially dead relative of a high ranking American official, and the possibility of Reece achieving his goal of promotion. Such as it is, the plot is similar to District B-13 in that it is merely a clothesline upon which the action set pieces are to be hung. You see, this movie is not about plot, it is about having a new school buddy action/comedy that has surreal moments that cannot be believed yet still exist in a believable world where we can cheer the action and believe that terrorism can be defeated. It is a fantasy that a one-man wrecking crew can bring about the means to an end. In that respect it is not unlike the one-man war machine action movies of the 1980s that starred the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvestor Stallone, and Dolph Lundgren.
The difference here is a modern sheen. The heroes are not quite so musclebound, the enemies are a bit more faceless, the action a bit quicker, but still essentially the same. The sheen is brought to Paris by producer extraordinaire Luc Besson, who also has story credit and I believe a big hand in moving the film down the right direction. Besson directed a number of strong films early in his career, including La Femme Nikita, The Professional, and Fifth Element, before focusing more on producing. He has been behind a number of fun action films over the years. We can now count From Paris with Love among them. To be certain, this is not among the best in Besson's stable, but it still delivers a blast of fun.
What it comes down to is that fun. It is dumb, stupid, insane fun. It really does not make a lick of sense. There are moments where you think you may have a handle on it only to find it takes a sharp left and heads somewhere else. After a couple of these switches you learn to just sit back and ride along as Charlie Wax barrels through anything and everything in is way. Fist fights, car chases, shoot outs, they are all here.
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