Review of Hollywood Ending (2002) by Jennifer B — 18 Nov 2009

Frustrating. This premise had the potential to yield a very good Woody Allen film, rather than a merely adequate one.

The blindness gags could have been much more creative and varied. Instead of just repeating the same weak dilemma of Allen being asked to choose between two props he can't see, why not go further? Show a hideous set with garishly mismatched colors. Show cast members being forced to dialogue in awkward positions: standing too far apart, or facing in opposite directions. Something. What's most surprising that the film-within-a-film's dailies are not shown at all -- this was an easy opportunity for humor lost. One might argue that Allen's comic style is more subtle, but he certainly wasn't above including a broad pratfall and multiple accidents with crashing objects.

Still, the story's most annoying flaw is rather simple: Allen's character shows no ability whatsoever to turn his head to the sound of someone's voice. Come on...maintaining this much realism was possible.

Meanwhile, Tiffani Thiessen's eye-popping bit part reminds us of what a superstar she would be, if she only could act.