Probably the biggest disappointment this year

Rating: 6/10 (8 June 2009)

I must have read a half-dozen reviews of this movie before seeing it. My wife and I were in need of a few good laughs but instead we struggled for every one. I frankly can't imagine a more damning criticism. My expectations had been wildly off the mark. The players were pleasant enough but not particularly engaging or worth as much time as given to them here. Allen, though over-the-top, was my favorite as the bearded somewhat sappy goof-ball. He was fun to listen to and watch, for a while. But the storyline was not very impressive and seemed to have been written by someone in high school. It just tries way too hard to be cute. Probably one of its better points is it didn't denigrate or belittle any particular ethnic group. To the contrary, one of its obvious intentions is a strangely low-key and stealth attempt to put in a good word for Jews as, I guess, fairly ordinary, fun-loving people. It did take a shot at gays, however, and Mike Tyson, probably without realizing it, is made to mimic a fairly recent European commercial where an ape plays the drums to a familiar song whose title I can't remember. If I were the producers I'd pray Mike doesn't find out about that!