Review of Scoop (2006) by Anna B — 18 Mar 2010

Judging from the reactions of others, I was expecting to hate this, but I was pleasantly surprised. The plot is, as always, clever and complex, and really, just a roaring caper; Scarlett, though a little wobbly at first, is quite capable as the bumbling newspaper detective; and as always there's a nice little self-referential quality to it (the characters are performing for Mr.

McShane the writer, who periodically drops in to advance the plot and divulge his opinion on the current happenings). The only glaring issue is Woody's character, who seems extraneous and makes you wonder why he's being dragged into the whole thing, but he quickly falls into a rhythm (and he still makes me laugh my head off, despite his many, many flaws).

I did think perhaps that it would have made more sense for Woody to be the ghostly journalist who was egging on Ms. Scarlett...but that probably would have ended up pushing the ridiculousness metre off the deep end, in which I mix metaphors.

Oh well, I had fun either way.