Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) is a writer in Paris who wants to live there since that's where all the good artists lived. His latest project is a novel about a guy who sells old memorabilia. His fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams) think his past obsession is nuts, while her Tea-Party parents don't like his political views.
And then at the stroke of Midnight, Gil finds himself in Paris of the '20s. Soon, he's chatting with F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and Pablo Picasso, among others. Gil's trips to the past give him a shock: longing for the past is nothing new.
As Gil, Owen Wilson made for a likeable protagonist. His role would've fit right in for Allen, but Wilson gives it his touch. The numerous supporting stars, such as Kathy Bates as Stein and Corey Stoll as Hemingway, are finely cast. My favorite of the supporting cast was Adrien Brody, as the whimsical Salvador Dali.
It's charming, funny and finely written, a good antidote for the big, dumb blockbusters crowding the cineplex. For the historical-savvy, this film is a treat. For everyone else, it's still a good time. At least you'll get to see Paris for free.
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