The Reel Review
A pretty, young marketing executive is transferred from Chicago to her company’s newly-acquired boutique firm in Paris to offer up her American perspective on using social media as a marketing platform in this rom-com TV series from Sex and the City series creator Darren Star. Nevermind that this fashionable fish out of water doesn’t speak French, she is ready to take the city by storm.
The show’s light and breezy vibe has the feel of a modern day mashup of The Devil Wears Prada and Bewitched, just with a modern, social media obsessed theme. Lily Collins (Rules Don’t Apply) has an infectious charm as the sunny but culturally oblivious American who gradually wins over her prickly Parisian co-workers with her sunny disposition, determination and creative problem solving abilities. She routinely saves the day with clever marketing idea to land that seemingly unwinnable account.
Those who can embrace this escapist bit of fluff will enjoy the fashions, the beautiful Parisian setting, likable characters and easily digestible storylines with an edgy tinge of bawdiness. (The coined phrase PBO – yikes!) The ensemble cast is lots of fun and keeps the pace fast and light. Still, some will be turned off by the admittedly one-dimensional and at times, even offensive stereotypes of the French. But regardless, the show is a fun bit of fluff to help us escape these dark times. And wow, Ashley Park can SING!
REEL FACTS
• Lily Collins, daughter of singer/songwriter Phil Collins, was nominated for a Best Actress Golden Globe for her performance in the 2016 rom-com, Rules Don’t Apply.
• Lucas Bravo, who plays Emily’s neighbor/love interest Gabriel in Emily in Paris, is the son of former pro footballer Daniel Bravo.
• Ashley Park, who was nominated for a Tony for her role of Gretchen Wieners in the 2018 Broadway musical adaptation of Mean Girls, was supposed to star in the revival of Thoroughly Modern Millie before Broadway shows were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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