Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly), an American painter who lives in Paris, just can’t seem to get his big break. One day Jerry decides to try and sell some of his works on the street. Fortunately, he meets a nice lady who purchases two of his paintings and says she can make it so he’ll sell more paintings. They decide to have dinner that night, and while at a swanky restaurant, Jerry meets his dream girl: Lisè Bouvier (Leslie Caron).
The pretty French girl takes no notice of Jerry, but he gets a dance with her, and the next day, finds her at work. After repeated badgering, she agrees to meet him for supper that night.
Pretty soon they fall in love, but alas, Lisè has a secret, and she can’t love Jerry anymore; she must leave for America!
Jerry finds out the horrible truth. Lisè drives off, out of his life. Jerry lapses into an incredible and LENGTHY dance sequence with Lisè, and that’s where things get strange.
An American in Paris is an average musical. The moves by Kelly are superb, and Leslie Caron, the ballet dancer, is breathtaking. Together, Kelly and Caron are as good as Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers, but this is still a boring movie and a lame musical. They should have given the Oscar to A Streetcar Named Desire.
Plot: 
Starting off it is easy enough to follow the film, but as we get into the movie, the music sequences turn it around some and leave you wondering just what is going on. And then, just when you think the movie is over, an elaborate dance number leaves you bewildered. The grand finalè, the musical number, is long and really pointless; it just doesn’t fit in the movie. There is no plot to this long-winded sequence; it just appears. It seems to be a sequence put in to showcase Kelly and Caron when they don’t need it at all.
Visual Effects:
They are good in this film. They help to add to the dream sequence, as well as all the dancing.
Sound:
The songs in An American in Paris are boring and hardly memorable; for a musical, they aren't very good. But then again, they aren't terrible, either.
Character Development:
We learn early on why Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) is in Paris. We learn about his past and his present. Lisè (Caron), is different though; we learn more about her as the film goes on. Out of all the characters, hers is the deepest.
Atmosphere:
There is really nothing to get you into this film, but if you like singing and dance then it’s all here for you (there is plenty of it!)
Realism:
Let’s face it: nobody dances in the streets anymore. And really, how often does the guy get the girl? But that's supposed to happen in movies. There is a fine line between "believable" and "phoney," but this movie leans towards pure Hollywood: phoney.
Warren’s Rating:
Movies it beat out for Best Picture:
Decision Before Dawn; A Place In The Sun; Quo Vadis?; A Streetcar Named Desire
5.86/10 Is the movie worth your time to watch?
13-03-03
