Reviews

As one who watched many episodes of Julia Child's show "The French Chef" on public television as a kid, I was hoping to see some of the famous author's humanity in Meryl Streep's performance. It didn't come through though -- it looked like a very, very good parody.

Amy Adams' performance was excellent, however. It was much better than the reviewers gave her credit for.

It was also nice to see Chris Messina playing her usually supportive mensch husband, similar to his role as Claire Fischer's lawyer boyfriend in the last season of Six Feet Under.

In all, a pretty good light entertainment, but not a great and moving film.

This movie is like "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai", in that they are both films where the anti-heroes are vicious professional killers, molded by the circumstances of their youth, both awakened to the possibility of love. But I liked Bangkok Dangerous much more, in that the grit seemed less contrived.

The reference to Charlie Chaplin is significant. In Thailand, Chaplin is revered even more than the French worship Jerry Lewis. To the Thai people, "The Little Tramp's" struggle against the domineering authority figures of his world is something that the average Thai relates to deeply. In Bangkok Dangerous, Kong, the killer, is a little guy buffetted by forces he doesn't fully understand -- but ultimately ones he fights back against.

Don't be too critical when watching this. Just settle back and enjoy it; and you will indeed.