Review of Everyone Says I Love You (1996) by Daniel P — 14 May 2007

Ok - can I please just get something out of the way first: when the synopsis of the film *and* the DVD jacket both describe the film as a romantic musical, why do people give reviews that typically state, "they just burst out into song, it was really random", or, "this would never happen in real life"? Grrr.

Mini-rant over. Everyone Says I Love You is a charming, old-fashioned feeling film, beautifully photographed in New York, Paris and Venice, and using camera techniques familiar from old MGM musicals. The film revolves around an extended family and their various romances as they fall in and out of love.

Along the way they periodically sing songs from the 30's and 40's that tie into their mood. All of the main cast, except for spoilsport Drew Barrymore, sing their own songs. Most of them can't sing (if not in tune, then not very well), but this is all part of the films appeal.

Speaking of the cast, Woody Allen has assembled one of his best for this, his 26th film: Julia Roberts, Alan Alda, Tim Roth, Edward Norton, Natalie Portman, Goldie Hawn and Natasha Lyonne (who provides the very funny narration).

The film is definitely more musical-comedy than musical-drama; underneath the gloss the story itself is rather shallow, but delightfully so, with the best number coming at the end with Goldie Hawn, who is easily the strongest vocalist.