A Real Disappointment

Rating: 6/10 (3 February 2013)

When I saw that a new Woody Allen film was out entitled To Rome With Love, I was thrilled, both because I usually enjoy his films, and because I am going to Rome for the first time in a couple of months. Well, what a letdown it was. Presenting the stories of a few couples and/or families and friends, the film seemed to be an attempt at Woody's usual m.o.'s, i.e., comedy, and his philosophical takes and questions on the things that matter to him, mainly male/female relationships, art/creativity, and life/death. While most of his films succeed in conveying both comic and philosophic perspectives on these issues, To Rome With Love did not. It came off as being a superficial, lightweight attempt at all of the above. In my opinion, some of the humor bordered on slapstick, and much of the script was predictable. I'm sorry to have to say all this as I was hoping for so much more. Maybe the next one will happen. Oh, and BTW, I think Woody should give up acting. At least in this film, he added nothing, and perhaps, detracted from it. The character he plays is hackneyed, worn out, and predictable. Better to have someone else play him, as in Midnight in Paris, which was so wonderful.