Review of Radio Days (1987) by Stuart K — 05 Sep 2012
Still in a nostalgic mood after The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), Woody Allen did this loving and warm homage to the radio shows he grew up with back in the 1940's. It's got an all star ensemble, and it's probabily the most autobiographical film Woody has ever made, but it shows a more innocent time in the 20th Century, with colourful characters and amusing situations.
Woody narrates the film, telling us of what life was like before television, and the radio shows he grew up with, the younger Woody is Joe (Seth Green), a 10 year old boy growing up in the Queens suburb of Rockaway Beach.
He listens to the radio constantly, much to the ire of his long-suffering mother (Julie Kavner) and his unsuccessful father (Michael Tucker). Joe is like any other 10 year old boy, getting into scrapes and trouble, and his addiction to radio shows causes concern.
He even tries to steal money from a rabbi (Kenneth Mars) so he can get a "Masked Avenger' ring. There's also little stories and vignettes about stories about radio celebrities from that time and the scrapes they got into, and how it related to Joe's family.
It's a heartwarming and uplifting film, and it was Woody's last happy film before he went all miserable with the likes of September (1987) and Another Woman (1988). Green is amazing, and who'd have guessed he would create Robot Chicken, and the supporting cast includes Dianne Weist, Mia Farrow, Diane Keaton, Jeff Daniels, William H.
Macy, Larry David, Danny Aiello and Wallace Shawn.
This review of Radio Days (1987) was written by Stuart K on 05 Sep 2012.
Radio Days has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
