Anything Else (2003)

Genre

Comedy | Romance

Director

Woody Allen

Country

USA

Cast

Jason Biggs, Christina Ricci,Woody Allen, Stockard Channing, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Fallon, Erica Leerhsen, KaDee Strickland, Adrian Grenier, David Conrad

Storyline

Aspiring New Yorker writer Jerry Falk (Jason Biggs) learns a lesson the hard way when he falls in love with a beautiful but flighty girl, Amanda (Christina Ricci).

Opinion

I admit I am a Woody Allen fan, so my opinion may not be completely impartial, but I don't understand why some people - critics mostly - have been so harsh with it. Sure, "Anything Else" is nothing if compared to "Annie Hall", but isn't it about time people stop comparing Allen movies to his best movies? I think that's the reason many cannot enjoy films like this one.

I agree that "Anything Else" doesn't bring anything new to the table. It is just another typical Allen comedy having a neurotic, Jewish New Yorker as a main character once again having a troubled romantic life both because he is clumsy and paranoic, and because he can't help but fall in love with the wrong woman.

And there are also many elements recycled from some of Allen best movies - and I gotta admit he seems to be throwing in references just to make sure the film is "Woody" enough - but, in spite of that, the film still manages to be enjoyable and funny.

This time Allen is not the main character, which is played by Jason Biggs, but he is more like a mentor to him, and that allows him to throw in some good, very Allen dialogue. And if the jokes heard over and over again doesn't amuse you anymore, there still are some scenes that will make you laugh, like when Christina Ricci's character is so scared to have sex she has a panic attack, and yet being totally fine with the (good-looking) doctor touching her all over. 

The cast was a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting anything from Jason Biggs, but he actually does a quite good job as a young Allen, even though he looks a little lacking in confidence at times. Christina Ricci also does a good job as the romantic interest, and Woody Allen finally plays a role that is more appropriate to his age, an eccentric old man.

Once again, I'm not saying this is Allen at his best, but the film is great to have some laughs.