Take the Money and Run
Cast
Woody Allen as Virgil Starkwell
Janet Margolin as Louise
Marcel Hillaire as Fritz
Jacquelyn Hyde as Miss Blair
Lonny Chapman as Jake
Directed by Woody Allen
Rater #2 has description and Review
Rater #1
Has not seen movie
Rater #2
7/10. Woody Allen's first outing as director, writer, and actor turns out
to be a hilarious quip of a film that almost always steadily throws
the laughs at you.
Allen plays Virgil Starkwell, outcast. He didn't really fit in as a
child, so he turned to a life of crime. But, as we see him now in his
adult years, he has yet to commit a sucessful crime. As he's trying
to steal purses in the park, he meets Louise (Janet Margolin), and
the fall in love. This time, the love seems true because he isn't 60
years old and falling in love with her. In documentary style film, we
find out about more of his escapedes.
The documentary style didn't do anything for me in Zelig, but it
worked here because it was more of a mockumentary. It had
more "acting" scenes and less interviews. A lot of times, there was
no narration, just like a "real" movie, and that added to the movie
some. Allen's comedic style is one I adore, and this is no exception.
He is very funny and his comedy is genuine and original. There's been
too many "crime is glorious" movies, but this one made you actually
feel for the criminal. That's no easy task.
I hadn't heard of Janet Margolin before this, but she was pretty good
as Allen's lover. However, a couple times it seemed like she tried
too hard in the "dramatic" parts, but I can overlook that. Speaking
of dramatic parts, there were a few too many lulls in the comedy,
especially during the romantic collages, but those too can be
overlooked if just the comedy is anaylzed.
Allen's gags are not outrageous, not controversial or anything like
that. Most of them are simple one-liners, though there are a good
number of sight gags, most involving his crimes. One particually
funny scene is when Allen and his gang are about to rob a bank, when
another gang comes in, also wanting to rob the bank. It's a fun 86
minutes that will leave you giggling from beginning to end.
Rated PG for brief language and criminal overtones.
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