It's fair to say that Woody Allen's post-2000 cinematic output has been hit and miss, to say the least. While many of his recent releases have been a far cry from the heights reached earlier in his career with movies like Annie Hall and Manhattan, there have still been a few which capture his earlier magic. Midnight In Paris might be a rather lightweight film when held up against Allen's finest work, but movies don't come much sweeter than this. Telling the story of an engaged young couple Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) and Inez (Rachel McAdams) as they explore the city of love, they find themselves magically transported back in time where they meet assorted historical figures including Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, who all stimulate Gil's creative juices as much as they raise questions about his relationship with his more materialistic fiancee. Any other time of the year and Midnight In Paris might tread a little too closely to sentimentality for some viewers - but with the gloom of January hanging overhead, the blend of dry wit, romance and the passionate creativity of yesteryear is just the ticket to cheer people up.
