2 Days in New York
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 2 Days in New York is the follow-up to 2 Days in Paris, both directed by and starring Julie Delpy. It follows the same basic formula as the original, focusing on a couple forced to address issues in their relationship while surrounded by her very French (and very outrageous) family. There are some scenes with bickering and fairly graphic sexual banter (including a running joke that references oral sex), adult characters drink and smoke pot, and there's plenty of swearing ("f--k," "s--t," etc.). The real drama comes from watching Delpy's character and her live-in boyfriend, played by Chris Rock, navigate the rocky shoals of a real relationship, which may not be especially relatable to young people who've had few of their own.
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What's the Story?
Marion (Julie Delpy) and Mingus (Chris Rock) live in New York with her son and his daughter from previous relationships and are bracing for a visit from her wacky family from Paris. And -- surprise! -- Marion's dad and her passive-aggressive sister have decided to bring a pal, the sister's current (and Marion's former) boyfriend. There are family issues, language barriers, cultural conflict, and more sources of strife, all squeezed into a small Manhattan apartment. Over 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK, Marion bickers and makes up -- and then fights some more -- with her sister, her ex, her neighbors, and mostly with Mingus. Will their relationship survive the visit?
Is It Any Good?
Taken on its own, 2 DAYS IN NEW YORK is witty and charming, with a frenetic Delpy at its center and a series of snafus unfurling at a laugh-a-minute speed. But it pales when evaluated as a sequel to 2 Days in Paris, the 2007 film also directed by and starring Delpy. The two movies share the same plot, with a long-term couple forced to reconsider their relationship after interactions with family push them both to do and say things they regret.
But while Paris was fresh and original, New York feels like a grainier facsimile with less credible characters. Marion's dad, who was zany before, now has his foibles cranked up beyond believability. And though hot-headed Marion picks fights in both films, in the first one, her issues seemed fairly legitimate; here it sometimes seems as if she flies off the handle for sport. Getting to know Marion and Mingus as a couple is interesting, but not quite as fun or incisive as it was getting to know Marion and Jack (Adam Goldberg).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Marion and Mingus. Do you think they're a good fit for each other? Do they seem like realistic people? What do you think about the way they resolve issues?
How does 2 Days in New York compare with its predecessor, 2 Days in Paris? Do they seem similar to Delpy's other well-known set of films, Before Sunrise and Before Sunset?
Do you think the movie presents a realistic view of love and relationships? Teens: What do you expect falling in love (and being together long-term) to be like? How do movies usually portray that?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 10, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: November 13, 2012
- Cast: Chris Rock, Julie Delpy
- Director: Julie Delpy
- Studio: Magnolia Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 95 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language, sexual content, some drug use and brief nudity
- Last updated: June 5, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
2 Days in Paris
Witty romance explores realistic relationship; graphic talk.
-
Before Sunrise
Two strangers quickly fall in love, discuss big ideas.
-
Take This Waltz
Drama about love, temptation has lots of mature content.
For kids who love romance
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