Review of Everyone Says I Love You (1996) by Lilli B — 23 Apr 2012

Before Moulin Rouge (2001) would reignite the stale old Hollywood musical, Woody Allen had a go at it, buzzing with music since using a Greek Chorus in Mighty Aphrodite (1995). He succeeded with this one, which has an all star cast, and it's a much more affectionate and magical film than Baz Luhrmann's musical would be.

The plot is basic, but it's fun nontheless using songs to carry the story along, it follows a family of liberals from the upper East Side of Manhattan, the Dandridges, father Bob (Alan Alda), wife Steffi (Goldie Hawn), their daughters DJ (Natasha Lyonne), Laura (Natalie Portman), Lane (Gaby Hoffmann), their conservative son Scott (Lukas Haas), their weird Grandpa (Patrick Cranshaw) and daughter Skylar (Drew Barrymore), who is engaged to Holden Spence (Edward Norton).

Steffi's first husband, Joe Berlin (Woody) who lives in Paris, falls for Von Sidell (Julia Roberts) through a bit of serendipity from DJ, while Skylar ends up falling for paroled criminal Charles Ferry (Tim Roth).

It uses old songs from the 1930's, but it works, and the musical numbers are beautifully staged, including one in a hospital, a Groucho Marx themed one and Goldie Hawn flying above the banks of the Seine in Paris.

Woody got there first Baz!!