Anything Else DVD with Christina Ricci, Jason Biggs, Stockard Channing (R) +Movie Reviews +Used DVD available for Swap

Hold the Mayo!

MICHAEL ACUNA | Southern California United States | 09/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The main problem with "Anything Else," Woody Allen's new film is that Allen is now too old to play the protagonist and Cristina Ricci's (as Amanda) love interest and instead has chosen American Pie-Boy, Jason Biggs to stand in for him. The problem with Biggs (as Jerry) is that he is the direct opposite of Allen (as Dobel): he's a Valley-Boy to Allen's NYC nebbish, he's suburban to Allen's Urban, he's quasi- cool to Allen's genuine geek, his line deliveries are flat, nasal and more importantly of all, Biggs is way too eager to please. In many ways Allen almost ruins his own film by his very presence on screen, because it only serves to emphasize Biggs shortcomings as Allen's stand-in.
The basic story of "Anything Else" is structured in normal Allen style with Jerry recalling his love affair with Amanda. There are a lot of funny moments mostly coming from Allen, playing Jerry's crazy friend (the scene in the Army surplus store is funny) and fellow writer, and Ricci who has grown up to be a stunningly talented and beautiful woman.
Hopefully, "Anything Else" will prove to be Allen's breakthrough, second coming, second wind artistically speaking because frankly his last several films have been mostly awful with very little to recommend them. Dump Biggs and replace him with someone with real NYC-style, hire Ricci, Drew Barrymore, Diane Keaton or Angelica Huston again, keep the writing at this or a higher level and Allen will undoubtedly reclaim his position as America's premier comedic writer/director."

Woody Allen Returns

Josh | ROSEVILLE, CA United States | 09/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a classic Woody Allen film in the best sense. A masterfully crafted movie that references his "earlier funny films" of the 70's. The characters talk and act like people from the 70's. Indeed the two main characters would once have been played by Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, and seem to be playing them down to their speech patterns. Woody Allen appears in the film as an enormously entertaining mentor/muse to Jason Bigg's character. Woody's eccentric intellectual neurotic seems even more unique in today's dumbed down cinematic world. Christina Ricci is great as the worlds worst girlfriend. Many truths of life are revealed humorously. Allen is at the height of his talent thus far. This film is for fans of Annie Hall and the like."

"Anything Else" Reminds Us Of Everything Else Woody Has Made

Alex Udvary | chicago, il United States | 09/19/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I look forward to seeing Woody Allen's movies every year. I can't wait to see them on opening day. I still keep the annual ritual. I, unlike most people enjoy Woody's lastest films. I admit, sometimes after hearing about the plots, I became worried thinking, "What the heck is this?". "I wasn't too sure about "Sweet and Lowdown", but, when I saw it, I thought it was a very good movie. I enjoyed "Small Time Crooks" and "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion". I thought they were light little diversions that didn't need to be treated so harshly from the public. But when I heard about "Anything Else" I began to have those reservations again. It's not that the plot didn't sound good, but, I didn't like the cast. I'm not a big Danny DeVito and Stockard Channing fan. I couldn't understand why Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci were chosen. The cast didn't seem "correct" for a Woody Allen movie. As I sat in the theatre I didn't quite know what to make of the movie. In the beginning moments I started thinking one of the main problems with "Anything Else" is that it reminds us of everything else Woody Allen has made. If you've seen all of Allen's films like I have then you'll have no problem recalling movies like "Hannah & Her Sisters", or "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan". The movie had the elements that make a great Woody Allen film. And it has what the public has been complaining has been missing in his recent films. There's the wonderful jazz score. The movie opens with Billie Holiday singing Cole Porter's "Easy to Love". It has the characters talking about the performing arts and name dropping people like Humphrey Bogart, Billie Holiday, Cole Porter, and even Diana Krall. It has the wonderful location shots of New York. The neurotic characters shifting through relationships. Yes, all the key ingredients are here, but, the movie never really seemed to take off to me. There was a certain Woody Allen spark that was missing. And I honestly think my first reaction was right. There was something wrong with the cast. There was just something that wasn't quite getting across. "Anything Else" tells the story of Jerry Falk (Jason Biggs). A young comedy writer trying to make it big. But, we find out very early on in the picture, that Jerry is just too nice of a guy. He lets his manager Harvey (Danny DeVito) actually take 25% of his cut. He lets woman walk all over him claiming he can never dump the girl. They must dump him. And, now in his new relationship, he lets his new girlfriend Amanda (Christina Ricci) drive him up the wall. He trys so hard to make her happy, just to find out, that something completely else will make her happy. And then of course there's David Dobel (Allen himself) he is really Jerry's only friend. David trys to give Jerry valuable lessons in life. But we can soon see David may be in more trouble then Jerry. If I said I walked out of "Anything Else" really enjoying it, I'd be lying. I actually had a better time watching "Hollywood Ending", "Small Time Crooks", and "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion". "Anything Else" left me slightly disappointed. And for me, that is very unusual. The last Woody Allen I saw that I didn't enjoy was "Alice" made in 1990! I had a hard time coming up with a rating for this movie. My feelings are somewhere in the middle. Around the 2.5 stars or 3. Dreamworks has been marketing the movie as anything but a Woody Allen. They have removed Allen from the trailers and have not mentioned him as director of the movie. If there idea was to get younger audiences to see this movie than those younger teens will be disappointed. As I said the characters in this movie talked about jazz music, old movies, and literature. Most younger people will not have a clue as to what these characters are talking about. But, Woody did try and write a screenplay that seems more geared to younger crowds. In fact think of this movie as "Annie Hall" for the kids. I could never say a Woody Allen movie is awful or bad. I could never think of one of his films as a waste of time. In an age when comedies are so gross. And the younger generation seems to be controlling what type of movies should be made it's a nice breathe of fresh air to see a Woody Allen movie every year. His movies are actually about adults(!). But I don't think "Anything Else" will connect with most of its audiences. Woody will not be making any new fans with this movie. And older fans will, as I said, will think to themself hey, haven't we seen this before in movies like "Annie Hall, "Manhattan", "Broadway Danny Rose", "Hannah & Her Sisters", and maybe even "Husbands & Wives". Bottom-line: Not a "top of the line" Woody Allen comedy. Has all the right elements to make a great Allen film but the cast doesn't pull it off. Has its share of funny bits but we just end up thinking of Allen's past films."

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