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Genre
Comedy | Crime
Director
Country
USA
Cast
Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Elaine May, Kristie Nielsen, Hugh Grant, Michael Rapaport, Tony Darrow, Jon Lovitz, George Grizzard, Larry Pine
Storyline
A loser of a crook (Woody Allen) and his wife (Tracey Ullman) strike it rich when a botched bank job's cover business becomes a spectacular success.
The film's plot is somehow similiar to "Take the Money and Run" - one of my favourite Allen's -, and at first takes some surprising turns. Eventually the plot twists will become quite predictable but the film moves forward in a humorous way.
It's not like I didn't like his serious stuff, but once in awhile it's nice to enjoy something that doesn't involve neurotic, upper-class New Yorkers dealing with a relationship crisis. "Small Time Crooks" still is the typical Allen story with long monologues of insecure men trapped in a labyrinth that they have created themselves, but the characters makes it different. Ray Winkler is the kind of person who comes up with maniac ideas that never turns out in the way their are supposed to, but that's what makes him a good character for some laughs.
I do have a problem with the other crooks though. They are such nice characters and they are a great addition to the story so I don't understand why they vanish after a while. It feels like Allen got lost.
Anyway, the cast is good as always, especially Tracey Ullman as Ray Winkler's wife. But I would have loved to see more of Michael Rapaport and Jon Lovitz who sadly have a small part as they play the other crooks.
It may not be as good as "Take the Money and Run", but it sure is a entertaining and funny.
Opinion
Woody Allen opens the new millennium with "Small Time Crooks", an engaging and hilarious comedy that is very close to to his earlier films.The film's plot is somehow similiar to "Take the Money and Run" - one of my favourite Allen's -, and at first takes some surprising turns. Eventually the plot twists will become quite predictable but the film moves forward in a humorous way.
It's not like I didn't like his serious stuff, but once in awhile it's nice to enjoy something that doesn't involve neurotic, upper-class New Yorkers dealing with a relationship crisis. "Small Time Crooks" still is the typical Allen story with long monologues of insecure men trapped in a labyrinth that they have created themselves, but the characters makes it different. Ray Winkler is the kind of person who comes up with maniac ideas that never turns out in the way their are supposed to, but that's what makes him a good character for some laughs.I do have a problem with the other crooks though. They are such nice characters and they are a great addition to the story so I don't understand why they vanish after a while. It feels like Allen got lost.
Anyway, the cast is good as always, especially Tracey Ullman as Ray Winkler's wife. But I would have loved to see more of Michael Rapaport and Jon Lovitz who sadly have a small part as they play the other crooks.
It may not be as good as "Take the Money and Run", but it sure is a entertaining and funny.
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