Funny and Charming? Definitely. Classic? Maybe...

Rating: 8/10 (8 April 2008)

Of the Woody Allen films I have seen, this one is the best. As usual, Woody is concerned with a love story. Alvy Singer is a neurotic and hyper comedian who meets and falls very quickly in love with the flamboyant and ditsy Annie Hall. We follow their love story as it's told to us through short sequences that are not necessarily in chronological order.
Diane Keaton is superb as the titular character of Annie Hall. Her Best Actress Oscar was well-deserved. Woody Allen, essentially playing the same character he always does, seems to be at his best here too. It feels almost as though this story had special significance to him.
A lesson in ironic comedy, Mr. Allen uses unique storytelling and humor to engage his audience and surprise them. The characters say whatever comes to mind, speak to the camera, and talk to random strangers on the street- yet somehow this only makes them seem more real. And yes, it makes them very funny, too.
If you're a die-hard fan of Woody Allen, you just might think it's the best movie ever made. For the rest of us, it's mostly a light-hearted and endearing romp. No matter where you fall in those categories, it's definitely worth a watch.
Jay Addison