Opening promisingly enough, we come into a discussion among big-time Hollywood studio execs over who to hire as the director of their most recent flick. We are introduced to striking professional lady Ellie (Téa Leoni Jurassic Park III [2001] Deep Impact [1998] Wyatt Earp [1994]) vouching for her ex-husband, who, after mere moments of talking about, we can determine is Woody Allen in all his trademark neurotic glory.

Val Waxman (Woody Allen The Curse of the Jade Scorpion [2001] Small Time Crooks [2000] Antz [1998]) plays a washed-up director desperate for meaningful work. The studio execs, including the boss, Ellie's current husband, are naturally skeptical considering Val's affinity for creative hypochondria. In the past entire productions were ruined because he fancied himself sick with such things as the Black Plague and diseases only Elm trees can get.

Wanting top notch talent for their project, they decide to take a risk with Waxman, who after barely getting over the fact of his wife and new husband hiring him, promptly becomes psychosomatically blind on the first day of shooting.

A highlight of this movie is the refreshingly hammy yet brilliant performance by the Chinese cinematographer's translator (Brian Cheng Rollerball [2002] Exceed [2001] Frequency [2000]). When Val first becomes blind, he confides in his agent, but because agents are not allowed on their clients' sets as a matter of studio policy, they must find someone else who can describe things and provide general assistance for him. The translator, using this as a means to support himself through business school, has nothing to loose if it is found out he has taken part in this lie. Aside from being an endearing character, he has the most memorable lines of the movie.

Being a Woody Allen fan, but not being absolutely nuts over him, I feel I can take a more objective look at this film than most. It seems like he may be stuck in his formulaic rut. One gets the feeling from watching it that he's merely going through the motions of his old shtick again. This movie is very entertaining but at times the actors seemed so bored I wondered how much this film was autobiography, intentional or not.

This film is about the grown-up (but sometimes petty) problems that only wealthy people usually have time to devote any energy to. In addition to sexually suggestive dialogue that might make mommy and daddy red in the face around Junior, I think a lot of things in this movie would go over his head. Save this movie for when you can hire a 'sitter for parents' night out.


Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older