Matthew: To Rome with Like

First off, let me apologize for my absence lately. I've been busy expanding my resume of tiny proportions. But, that's all done now so here I am!

Last summer saw the release of one of my favorite films of 2012, Woody Allen's Oscar winner Midnight in Paris. That movie hard charm, whit, it was surprising and it captured the city so  beautifully that it left it's audience swooning over Paris so much that I'm sure French tourism saw a major increase of like 1000%. Truly a great, magical little film.

Now, embarrassingly, I will admit that up until last week I had only seen three Woody Allen films. Midnight in Paris, Hannah and Her Sisters and the classic Annie Hall. So I was pretty anxious to get that total up to four with his newest release To Rome With Love. And even though it is my least favorite out of the four Woody Allen films I've seen, I'm still happy to have seen it.

The movie is based around 4 plots that never mix. 2 were wonderful, 1 was okay, and 1 was...meh. It also saw the return of Allen in his first screen role in six years. And you know how people say that his movies are always better when he's not in them, well, his plot was my favorite! Allen's story was about a retired opera director (Allen) meeting his future in-laws for the first time, and he discovers that the patriarch of the family has one of the most gorgeous baritone voices he's ever heard.. But there's a catch that I won't go into because it hilarious and will ruin the plot. This story also stars Judy Davis, Alison Pill and a bunch of Italian people.

The other plot that was just freaking hilarious was Roberto Benigni's where he played a man who suddenly became the most famous person in the country. This story was all about the sudden rise and fall of fame. Hilarious I tells ya.

 What didn't work for me was the love triangle storyline with Alec Baldwin, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page and Greta Gerwig. I found this one confusing, and it wasn't really clear to me what exactly what conventions Allen was trying to use. Watch the movie, and if you get it- please let me know.  Also, I don't know about you, but I can't take Alec Baldwin seriously! Everything that comes out of his mouth sounds sarcastic and I laughed- when I wasn't supposed to!

When I left the movie I didn't have a burning desire to hop on a plane and go to Rome like I did with Midnight in Paris. I don't think the movie explored the beauty and wonder of the city. There wasn't any magic or spark. Unlike Paris, Allen could have set this movie in any location and it would of been fine. Rome was a setting, not a character, and for me that was what I was really missing.

To Rome With Love: 3 E-squsa-me-a's / 5 Hey-a you-a's

-Matthew

@thematthewjames