
On the plus side, there are postcard views of Rome that make you want to book seats on the next plane. Better yet, Woody appears in this one, reviving his neurotic screen persona and tossing off very funny one-liners. But the other characters and their stories are woefully contrived, and the movie soon wears out its welcome.

The actors do their best to make awkward scenes and dialogue ring true, but it’s a hopeless effort. Moments of farce alternate with touches of whimsy and even fantasy that never take flight.
Rather than dwell on this misfire, I prefer to think about Woody’s last film, which was so entertaining, and look forward to the next.
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1 Comment
Jim Reinecke | June 26, 2012 7:46 PM
But, Leonard, you have to remember that to true Woodyphiles, Mr. Allen is critic-proof. Even his less inspired efforts afford us moments of wit, charm and creativity that are all too missing from contemporary mainstream American film (alas and alack!). I, for instance, didn't think that ANYTHING ELSE was the absolute disaster that you did, even though I will grant you that it is a lesser Allen work. I'm also one of the very few people who liked CELEBRITY immensely (it frightens me to realize, however, that one of the other fans of that one was Richard Roeper. . .Gadzooks!), and even SHADOWS AND FOG and THE CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION, which I consider Woody's least impressive films still have laudable moments. I'll definitely see this one, secure in the knowledge that one reel of any Woody Allen film is artistically and intellectually superior to the entire output of Michael Bay! (Did I really just mention those two names in the same sentence? Forgive me, Woody!)