Woody Allen writes his scripts on an old fashioned typewriter. He thinks in analog patterns in linear ways we don’t choose to use these days. Maybe that’s why this film is so effectively funny to me, it’s a change of pace that works. His romantic tension with Helen Hunt is highly enjoyable and the plot he has written for this film keeps you guessing like the best Columbo mysteries.
“An insurance investigator and an efficency expert who hate each other are both hypnotized by a crooked hypnotist with a jade scorpion into stealing jewels.” -IMDB
Greg Stebner Cop (uncredited)
Woody Allen CW Briggs
John Tormey Sam
John Schuck Mize
Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Comedy, Crime, Mystery, Romance
PG-13
Fri 24 Aug 2001 UTC
103min
IMDB Rating: 6.8
In this film, a gumshoe insurance inspector gets into a match of wits with femal who’s been hired to “clean things up.” The idea is that she wants Woody’s character out. Helen Hunt plays this role deftly and the only way it can work with their age difference is through hypnotism. No, I’m not exaggerating, this film has a crux of hypnotism that keeps the plot flowing.
A hypnotist convinces these arch enemies they love each other and it makes for some really great romantic comedy. Even if you don’t like Woody Allen, you’ll be busting up laughing at these hypnotized lovers. The gags in this film are very well executed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I’ve seen this period movie probably 10 times. It has the appeal of a noir detective movie but maintains that subdued humor of the director. For fans of Woody Allen as well as goofy, quirky romantic comedies, I highly recommend it.
I did not enjoy this movie and thought it would be much better if someone else was cast in the Woody Persona. I like Hunt and even Ackroyd but the main role should have been played by someone else. Nothing against the jokes or story which were fun