Now that Valentines Day is drawing near this is the perfect time for guys to tell their wives, "honey, there is this new film out I think we should see. It is called, From Paris with Love." They will think you are the most romantic gent around. Until of course the movie starts and the body count rises. In the new action adventure film from Taken director Pierre Morel, Paris is the backdrop but love takes a back seat to terrorist cells and spy games.

 James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is aid to an American Ambassador in Paris. Reece also secretly works as a spy and has aspirations of becoming a full time op. He gets his chance when he is paired up with Charlie Wax (John Travolta) for a mission to thwart an attack on the city. Wax is certainly the Yin to Reece's Yang which causes for a clash of styles and approach to confrontation.

 From Paris with Love only takes a few minutes to set up the characters and then you are right in the action. Once it starts it is a full speed ahead adventure with lots of fist-a-cuffs, shootouts and great car chases. Nothing like Paris to bring out the fast driving. You get a chance to see all the different sides of the city as Reece and Wax track down their foe.

 I appreciate the direction this film went. It could easily have become another Rush Hour styled movie with the goofy buddy buddy antics and slapstick moments. Instead it takes the high road and allows its actors to solidly bring all elements of their character to life. Travolta is amazing in this role and has the right balance of hard edge toughness with that boyish charisma to make a memorable role. Reece too is not just a sidekick but a newbie partner with a lot to learn. Other than a few soft spots in the script his character seems rather genuine.

 From Paris with Love is rated R for strong bloody violence throughout, drug content, pervasive language and brief sexuality. This is an adult action film and the body count rises high. The language too is rampant from Wax. At the same time though it works on an emotional level as the two characters come to know each other. Wax is a tough rule bending operative, but at the root he just wants to serve those he has vowed to protect. So you do not walk away feeling grimy after this like say, Training Day. I give it 3.75 out of 5 vases. Great role for Travolta and a solid action flick that plays it safe but in doing so brings an enjoyable action flick. So says Matt Mungle