Paris, France

The critics have been unkind to Tom Walmsley, who wrote the script for the movie Paris, France which is just now released. Critics almost never pay any attention to script writers; so it surprising to see Walmsley singled out for attack. And attacked he is: all of the Toronto critics (with the exception of the late Jay Scott, who loved the movie when he saw it in preview) have taken swipes at him; one of them called his work "vile and scabrous." In this case the critics are quite simply mistaken. None of them seems to understand that Paris, France is a comedy, and that it is very funny. It must be the un-Canadian sex that puts them off; and there is a lot of sex in the movie, but none of it is gratuitous: the sex makes the movie work, and the movie works well. The dialogue is appropriately over-the-top, and we also enjoyed the cameo appearances by Pulp Press books throughout the movie. Check it out.