I don't know why romantic comedies are so popular. They are horribly formulaic and their plot turns are more preposterous than most big-budget action films. I suppose it's not the believability of the romantic comedy that draws people in, but rather the improbability of a love which triumphs over all.

Oh well, if I have to watch a romantic comedy, make it a French one: chance meetings, beautiful scenery, great-looking cuisine, and of course, love. French film delivers every time. Still, as French movies go, Jet Lag is rather unremarkable. Most of the scenes are long and dialogue heavy. Combined with the small number of scene changes, the whole film has a stage-play feel. The director is adept enough to use this claustrophobic atmosphere to her advantage during argument scenes, but the romance moments don't sizzle like they should. With two amazing actors like Juliette Binoche and Jean Reno, one would expect a little more heat.

What Jet Lag does do is confirm that Juliette Binoche is the most beautiful and captivating woman alive. For the first half of the film, she is ridiculously done up in bright makeup and wearing outlandish clothes. In the second half we see her au natural and it is staggering how gorgeous she is. The change is clearly meant to be a metaphor for the true self that lives under the public persona, but no matter the reason or circumstance, Binoche is stunning throughout.

If you love Juliette Binoche, this film is for you. Without Binoche, Jet Lag is simply a run-of-le-mill French romantic comedy.

-Megan