'TO ROME WITH LOVE'

'TO ROME WITH LOVE'(PG-13) (3 STARS)

Written and Directed by Woody Allen
Actors: Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page, Greta Gerwig, Alec Baldwin, Roberto Begnini, Penelope Cruz, Woody Allen, Alison Pill, Judy Davis

I know Woody Allen is an acquired taste and "To Rome With Love" will satisfy Allen's fans but I think it will non fans too. There are moments where some of the dialogue is too precious but his latest is a fun, breezy time at the movies. This is a perfect summer movie for romantics, lovers of Italy and adult comedy. "To Rome With Love" is hit and miss Woody Allen but it hits more often. There are four stories here that are mixed in together and are all set in beautiful Rome, Italy.

All the stories have their little problems and I have my favorite story of the four. The one I thought I disliked at first grew on me and the one I thought I liked seemed too obvious a message after thinking about it. This is not as strong as "Midnight in Paris" and I think this is only for Woody fans while "Paris" is more far reaching. A lot of these small comedies by Allen have missed lately but he is back on a minor roll. The best thing about Woody Allen movies is the excitement of what Woody will show up, good, great or weak Woody.

My favorite story of the four deals with Woody Allen back in acting mode and I loved seeing him back. Allen and his wife, played by Judy Davis, visit their daughter (Alison Pill) to meet her new Italian boyfriend. Her boyfriend's family are very conservative and Allen is a retired Music Producer and agent. Allen hears the father sing opera in the shower and wants to come out of retirement to manage a possible, new singing career. Allen and Davis are perfect with their banter and Davis is back in "The Ref" form and I miss her. This episode reminds me of my all time favorite Woody Allen comedy "Broadway Danny Rose", the most perfect of Allen's films (yes, more than "Annie Hall"). It is vintage Allen and very funny.

The story that was shaky at first but grew on me deals with a love triangle between a couple played by Greta Gerwig and Jesse Eisenberg and another woman played by Ellen Page. The couple live in Rome and the Page character is a free spirited actress that visits and tempts the man in the couple. There is also a one man Greek Chorus in Alec Baldwin who keeps giving the male advice. This story is mannered at first with Eisenberg voicing the Allen type character but the movie ends on a satisfying note.

The story that was funny with a too neatly spelled out message deals with a regular Italian resident played by Roberto Begnini. He wakes up one day with a news crew following him and he is suddenly famous. They ask him how he shaves, what he eats for breakfast etc. The movie is commenting on the reality show craze and how anyone can be famous and how fame can corrupt us and make us feel important at the same time. It is a funny episode but it's message is layed on a little too light and is too obvious, more could have been done with the message.

Now that segment is still decent Woody Allen and there is another story I really liked dealing with a newly married young couple. They are both Italians and the man has a job set up for him by his snooty uncles. The woman gets lost, gets involved with a famous Italian actor and his wife. The male has to recruit the prostitute that is sent to him by mistake to pretend to be his wife. The story gets wacky and involves a lot of out there comic situations and I thought it was a lot of fun. Add to that another wonderful comic performance by Penelope Cruz as the prostitute.

So I loved a lot of "To Rome With Love" and it is a lot of fun and very funny and sharp most of the time. Rome looks beautiful and made me want to go back. I love when you have visited a foreign country you love and seeing it on the screen in all it's wonderul beauty. I loved Woody Allen, Judy Davis (who I have always had a crush on), Penelope Cruz and Ellen Page. I also loved the Italian actors and I always had a big, goofy grin during the Woody Allen/Judy Davis segment. "To Rome With Love" is hit and miss Woody Allen and I will take it!