Funny Marriage Counseling

Rating: 10/10 (27 May 2005)

This is in my Top 10 so don't look for any criticism in this comment. Woody as Alvey Singer and Diane Keaton as Annie run through all the phases of a romance and provide background commentary for marriages. Long before all the psychobabble of Dr. Phil and "Men are from Mars", Woody said it all in this movie. From the split-screen therapy sessions of the two discussing their frequency of sexual activities to how they handle their breakup and reconciliation as friends Woody has nailed down real life.
He lampoons Hollywood culture wonderfully and gets people like Paul Simon to play along. Although I don't like the "NYC as the end all of civilization" attitude that Woody has in virtually every film he has made, I have to appreciate the job he does of encapsulating it in this movie where he says something like "the highest expression of culture in CA is a 'right-on-red' " (in traffic). He does point out the vacuous nature of the entertainment culture (exemplified by CA / LA) and many of its denizens.
Throughout this film Woody hits on nearly every aspect of love and romance. The initial playfulness, full-on lust, the special moments that you will only have with that one person, the typical breakup (where one withdraws emotionally but keeps denying it until it is all too obvious), the longing for your lost love and the attempts at re-creating those special times with new people. I ask you, did he miss anything? I've seen the movie (or parts of it) at least 2-3 dozen times and always ask myself that question. If you read any self help books on marriage problems (I admit to reading a few) and then see Annie Hall again you can't help but feel that Woody has touched on most of the issues in a funny and expert way - and you don't have to wade through 15 examples of "how couples argue" or "how much sex is enough" or have some phony doctor (who has been married 3 or 4 times himself or herself) giving "relationship" advice and exercises. Save yourself the time and effort and rent or buy Annie Hall.