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Finally caught up with this and it is minor, minor Allen indeed-- the weakest since Hollywood Ending, probably. For a film stuffed with so many story-lines it still felt both underdeveloped and overlong. Some good young actors are adrift here, and the highlights are scant but roughly: the idea behind if not necessarily the execution of Alec Baldwin's confidant, the shower operas, and Benigni's storylines. Also Allen continues to cast familiar fringe comic actors seemingly by accident, as I spied Meatman Stu at the cafe table with Baldwin! Per my earlier speculation, this did net an "R" for the exact reasons as Everybody Says I Love You-- nothing inappropriate save exactly one sexual use of the word "fuck," yet another example of ludicrous MPAA standards

Sorry this isn't really relevant to the film, but just a quick note:

dustybooks wrote:if I'm not mistaken, first time I've ever witnessed the phenomenon of people applauding at the closing credits of a movie, though maybe that just suggests I need to get out more.

Evidently that's exactly what it meant, because since then it's happened to me at three other movies (Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and weirdest of all, Zero Dark Thirty).

Kind of surprised to see me saying I really enjoyed this film back there on the previous page because I don't remember much about it and my inclination is to agree with domino. I think perhaps I just enjoy the act of watching Allen's films, whether I actually like them that much or not, if that makes sense!?

domino harvey wrote:Finally caught up with this and it is minor, minor Allen indeed-- the weakest since Hollywood Ending, probably.

I think that honor goes to Scoop.