Jet Lag (2002)

The French are nothing if not romantic, and their understanding of comedy extends at least to a national reverence for Jerry Lewis; so it is no wonder that our brothers from across the sea are so adept at the romantic comedy. Jet Lag (2002) is light and sexy on the surface but manages to touch some deep emotional pools nonetheless. The fantastically fresh and appealing Juliette Binoche and ever-brooding alpha male Jean Reno are strangers who meet at an airport when their flights are cancelled during a workers’ strike. (Workers’ strikes are as ingrained in French culture as aromatic cheese.) The stranded lead actors share their secrets, their pasts and their dreams on the concourses of Charles De Gaulle and at a nearby hotel, and audiences everywhere are transported along with them by their sexy, hopeful connection.