BY MIKEY MIGO
I am a huge fan of Woody Allen's work. I've binged and taken the time to see most of his filmography over the past couple of years. There's some I like more than others and some I can easily praise as some of the best movies I've ever seen. Over the past few years, Mr. Allen has been filming in other countries and pretty much focusing on more dramatic works. Sure there's normally the signature charming humor mixed in, but the themes are rather dark in these recent films. This one not only brings us back to New York, but is probably the funniest Woody Allen movie in AT LEAST half a decade. For most filmmakers that wouldn't mean a lot, but Allen cranks out a movie a year. This movie is about a genius New Yorker, played by Larry David, who is a know-it-all snob of despair. He meets a naive young southern girl played brilliantly by Evan Rachel Wood. These two form an odd dependency on each other that turns to a relationship. All is well for them until her separated and chaotic parents, Patrica Clarkson and Ed Begley Jr. show up and everything just goes off the deep end. The grumpiness of David and the innocence of Wood make a great combination. There's a lot of charm, a lot of laughs, and it doesn't disappoint. My only gripe is the third act. The movie builds on the relationship for most of the movie and then once Begley Jr. shows up the movie feels really rushed. I'd give this one a solid B, but it has potential to be a classic and increase in value like a baseball card.
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