Review of Everyone Says I Love You (1996) by Josh M — 08 Jul 2009

You know how I've spent a lot of my last few reviews commenting on how rich Allen's characters are? Well, on viewing a film of his from a couple of decades beyond the last ones: what the hell happened? Everyone Says I Love You is almost entirely populated by shrill, one-note jokes that don't function as people so much as wacky joke delivery machines, with no one coming out worse than Tim Roth, playing Allen's idea of a career criminal in what has to be the low point of the film.

So, sure, are the musical numbers really fun and well made? Sure they are. And is the last number with Goldie Hawn and Allen really sweet and touching (the one exception to my lack of characterization complaint)? Yeah, it is.

But between Lyonne's awful narration and acting, truly contrived and forced plots, and the slew of thin characterizations, even the joy of the numbers and the sweetness of that final scene could only do so much.