Movie Notes: Anything Else
= 2 stars
Starring Jason Biggs, Christina Ricci, Stockard Channing
Directed by Woody Allen
Synopsis
Comedy writer Jerry Falk’s (Jason Biggs) relationship with ditzy Amanda Chase (Christina Ricci) is falling apart. He turns to a much older writer, David Dobel (Woody Allen) for advice.
The Good
- In Husbands And Wives, the Allen character mentions an attraction to “kamikaze women.” Enter Amanda Chase, and Jerry’s relationship with her is obviously doomed from the start. Their sexual politics reflect Allen’s wit that surely springs from personal observation of an unstable personality.
- Thankfully, Allen’s character doesn’t hook up with any of the younger women.
The Bad
- Badly cast. Biggs is passable, but seems awkward playing an Allen stand-in: his lines lack conviction, as if he’s reading them off of a card. The gruff, paranoid David Dobel role played by Allen could have easily gone to someone else. Lastly, Ricci is a little too dry to play someone so daffy and occasionally unhinged.
- As usual for this period, so much material is a rehash of earlier Allen movies: Agents, writers, moving to California, futile efforts to save a collapsing relationship, infidelity, cynical observations on just about everything, therapists, New York, etc. One could put all these elements in a blender and let a script generate itself.
Conclusion
Amusing, but awkwardly cast and nearly everything here, Allen has covered before. Skip it.
Next Woody Allen Movie: Cassandra’s Dream
Previous Woody Allen Movie: Hollywood Ending
IMDB: Anything Else
Wikipedia: Anything Else
Rotten Tomatoes: Anything Else 41%