Everyone Says I Love You DVD > Reviews > I didn't

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Indifferent to it
Story
Characters / Performances
Special Effects
How does it compare to similar films?

Advantages:	Woody Allen to music, now there's something new
Disadvantages:	It just is not that good .

Recommend to potential buyers:

no

Full review

Okay, so if those at Ciao put my review of Annie Hall online, you will get a feeling of how much I respect and admire Mr Woody Allen. In fact, I would go to anything involving this man, and have done (can anyone remember Tales from the Mall). What surprises me with Everyone Says I Love You is that, having watched it twice on video and once at the cinema, and have nothing much but indifference for it.

The plot revolves (not surprisingly) around a New York family, filled with neurosis and utterly dysfunctional. Nothing new there then. We have mother (Goldie Hawn) who is, among other things, dysfunctional and neurotic, who champions prison reform as one of her liberal causes. Naturally her daughter (Drew Barrymore, who is less neurotic but just as dysfunctional as mother) dumps her loyal, but dysfunctional and neurotic, fiance (Edward Norton) for a dysfunctional ex-con (Tim Roth, who is amazingly funny). Dysfunctional, neurotic and IMPOTENT (now there's a novelty) father (Alan Alda) is beside himself, though mother thinks it great. Mother's ex-husband (Allen) is just as neurotic as the rest of them, though not as dysfunctional and not in New York. He meets a charming woman (julia Roberts) who he falls head over heels in love with, but thinks he will never get her. Will Allen get Roberts? Will dysfunctional girl marry ex-con? And where has all this music come from?

Thus you have the main thread of the story. Allen's usual, one may say . . .dysfunction, neurosis and a little impotence set in front of the beautiful back drops of New York, Paris and Venice. This time, though, things are slightly different, for the characters sing and dance, as well as everything else. This is where the movies strength it. It is a bit like a breath of fresh air, every time the music starts and Goldie et al warble a couple of notes. Allen films are getting more and more tired and dated, but most of all are getting very repetitive, so this film adds a certain newness which has not been present in years.

The music is wonderful, and so very uplifting.The fact that this is a musical film showcases some lovely ideas we all have about romance, and I assure you that, having viewed this, you will want to dance around singing about the joys of finding a soul mate.

Other strengths are the brilliant acting talents of Drew Barrymore (thefirst role I have ever liked her in) and Tim Roth (not your typical Woody Allen fodder, but fits into the film very well). Alda and Hawn give their usual performances, and to very good effect.

But there are many problems with this film. Although the music gives it a breath of fresh are, the script seems so tired. Allen is regurgetating one liners he used in Annie Hall (to great affect) then Manhattan (to not so great affect) then Bullets Over Broadway (we were beginning to cringe) and now here (please someone pass the sick bucket). I suppose it is because his concept rarely changes: forget Sleepless in Seatle, any Allen film roughly transcribes as Neurosis in New York. This is okay for die hard fans like me, but you get the feeling that this move into musicals was to attract a wider audience. With a tired and old script, they will stay away in their droves.

You also get the feeling that some (Julia Roberts and Edward Norton) are there to show that they can 'do' Allen. They seem to be so misplaced, and this makes them unbelievable. Finally, Woody Allen is getting far too old to be worrying about not having someone, and whereas in Annie Hall this was bittersweet and touching, in Everyone it is plain annoying.

All in all, disappointing to say the least. Not half as many funny bits as there should, or could, have been, and a lack lustre cast raking over old coals. The film seems to be trying to appeal to Allen and non Allen fans alike. Woody Allen is such a required taste that not many films can do that, Annie Hall and Bullets Over Broadway being possible exceptions. The films main strength, and one which means I will watch it again, is that it has some wonderful music and the rare chance to see our Hollywood stars show what terrible voices they have, it is just a shame that two great film genres (cult and musical) were mixed to such a sad effect.