Julie Delpy obviously loves New York, especially the Statue of Liberty, and takes you all over the city with her new film “2 Days In New York” in which she acts, directs, co-writes, edits, wrote music, did the editing and also takes credit as one of the still photographers. That’s a lot of work for one person even if she has assistants and it shows in the final product. The directing and camera work gets a little sloppy at times and the story is all over the place.
Marion (Delpy) lives with Mingus (Chris Rock), each with a child from a previous relationship, in a very non-Hollywood but very realistic New York apartment. Marion is an artist and will be having a big exhibit that she has invited her father Jeannot (her real father the actor Albert Delpy) and her sister Rose (Alexia Landeau) from Paris. Rose brings along Manu, (Alex Nahon) who is an ex of Marion’s. Due to Manu and Rose smoking a joint in the elevator in front of a neighbor Bella (Kate Burton) who tells Marion that she is reporting them to get her evicted from the building for a multitude of experiences like her son painting the mailboxes. Marion fakes stage 4 cancer in her brain changing Bella’s mind and will tell her surgeon husband Ron (Dylan Baker who has been a very busy actor lately) who becomes very concerned, particularly after seeing Rose nude which she often is in theapartment.
Though their mother has died recently neither Rose or Jeannot seem to be bothered about it. Why Rose, or anyone, would hook up with Manu, who is very crass when it comes to talking about Blacks who he seems to admire but it doesn’t come across that way, since many years ago he had sex with Marion. In addition to her liking to be nude around the apartment even the first time she meets Mingus the two sisters seem to be at each others throat most of the time.
Like the story lines Delpy tries too many different ways of being funny from her father trying to smuggle in 30 cheeses and sausages taped around his body to Chris Rock having private conversations with Barack Obama, none of which are funny. There are some screwball antics along with pigeons pooping on some people who have given Marion trouble and, with trying everything, an occasional laugh out loud line.
Everything about the movie, from the acting to the directing, is basically okay, neither bad or good but just there to be watched.
greatmartin 
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