Review: To Rome With Love
Woody Allen's latest directorial venture into a European capital marks the veteran actor's first appearance in one of his own films since 2006. Yet, To Rome With Love doesn't focus on Allen alone - this brilliantly constructed jigsaw of a movie follows the stories of multiple couples either living in or visiting Italy's eccentric capital city.
Such characters include Alec Baldwin's ageing architect John, who encounters a young student (Jesse Eisenberg) with a passion to pursue a similar career path - and a a dilemna in the form of an equally fierce passion for his girlfriend's best friend (Ellen Page). Meanwhile, Hayley, a young self-employed artist, (Alison Pill) encounters a handsome Italian lawyer, Michelangelo, however her dad (Woody Allen) isn't quite as thrilled about the relationship - that is until he discovers Michelangelo's father, Giancarlo, has a superb operatic voice. The catch is that he only has the confidence to sing in such a way in the shower.
To Rome With Love runs the risk of stretching itself thin - the film is a tree whose many branches never touch despite stemming from the same trunk. However, each little story has the potential to become its own feature film, and that's the charm. Allen gives us a beginning, middle and end for each character and each tale is wrapped up nicely (although one is very cleverly left open to interpretation, Nolan style).
As for the comedy, this is possibly Allen's best work. Fans looking for something more akin to the sweet, nostalgic delight of Midnight In Paris will be disappointed that this is not a similarly artistic look at Italy's capital city, however it soon becomes clear that To Rome With Love is not trying to be Midnight In Paris 2.0.
Which is a shame, because despite the charm of the stories in To Rome With Love, they all seem a little too familiar. A young man conflicted with feelings for another woman, a case of mistaken identity and an unwillingly talented man too shy to face his potential have all been done before in various feature films - and let's face it, an 'Average Joe' discovering that the world wants to watch his every move is almost a complete rip-off of Jim Carrey's The Truman Show.
There are some bizarre moments in the film that take away from its charm too - for example, the opening and closing sequences in which a traffic director and an artist break the fourth wall and discuss the many stories occuring in the city feel very cheesy and unnecessary. Add to that the use of subtitles throughout the film when Italian characters are speaking which can be rather distracting and To Rome With Love can be a somewhat distant experience - although saying that, it's either we watch subtitles or learn fluent Italian to enjoy the movie to its fullest.
To combat this, however, we have superb performances from a very broad range of acting talent. Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page have fantastic chemistry together and, despite their characters' unsympathetic storyline, we are very emotionally invested. I for one hope this isn't the last time we see these two young superstars on screen together. Alec Baldwin also provides some excellent comic relief, often hilariously popping up in the most bizarre places alongside Eisenberg to offer some not-so-welcome advice. As for Woody Allen, his character is a little annoying but it soon becomes clear his intentions are honest and the actor/director is just as good as he has always been. The supporting cast of Italian greats are also brilliant, particularly with their physical comedic timing.
Rome itself, however, is not given any particularly highlight during the film. Unlike Midnight In Paris, where the French capital is a principal character within itself, To Rome With Love uses the "eternal city" as more of a convenient backdrop for these characters to meet or have their stories played out. While this is fair enough, as the movie is a comedic character study, it really feels like the film could have taken place anywhere else. To Rome With Love isn't really a suitable title for a film that doesn't particularly show any love to Rome - more affection for the eccentricity of people and the antics they get into.
Such characters include Alec Baldwin's ageing architect John, who encounters a young student (Jesse Eisenberg) with a passion to pursue a similar career path - and a a dilemna in the form of an equally fierce passion for his girlfriend's best friend (Ellen Page). Meanwhile, Hayley, a young self-employed artist, (Alison Pill) encounters a handsome Italian lawyer, Michelangelo, however her dad (Woody Allen) isn't quite as thrilled about the relationship - that is until he discovers Michelangelo's father, Giancarlo, has a superb operatic voice. The catch is that he only has the confidence to sing in such a way in the shower.
Thirdly, newlyweds Antonio and Milly move from their rustic hometown to Rome because Antonio's upper class uncles have offered him a high earning job in the family business. Unfortunately, however, Milly gets lost on the way to the hair salon and cannot find her way back to the hotel. Meanwhile, Antonio worries and, hearing a knock on the door and assuming his wife has returned, he answers it in his underwear. Anna (Penelope Cruz), a prostitute, bursts into his room insisting that she has been paid to have sex with him and she will not leave until he does. His uncles mistake Anna for Milly, and Antonio is forced to go along with the tale. Finally, an everyday man working 9-5 in a dull office longs to be able to make a difference to his life. One day he wakes to inexplicably find himself branded a celebrity, with the paparazzi documenting his every move.
To Rome With Love runs the risk of stretching itself thin - the film is a tree whose many branches never touch despite stemming from the same trunk. However, each little story has the potential to become its own feature film, and that's the charm. Allen gives us a beginning, middle and end for each character and each tale is wrapped up nicely (although one is very cleverly left open to interpretation, Nolan style).
As for the comedy, this is possibly Allen's best work. Fans looking for something more akin to the sweet, nostalgic delight of Midnight In Paris will be disappointed that this is not a similarly artistic look at Italy's capital city, however it soon becomes clear that To Rome With Love is not trying to be Midnight In Paris 2.0. Which is a shame, because despite the charm of the stories in To Rome With Love, they all seem a little too familiar. A young man conflicted with feelings for another woman, a case of mistaken identity and an unwillingly talented man too shy to face his potential have all been done before in various feature films - and let's face it, an 'Average Joe' discovering that the world wants to watch his every move is almost a complete rip-off of Jim Carrey's The Truman Show.
There are some bizarre moments in the film that take away from its charm too - for example, the opening and closing sequences in which a traffic director and an artist break the fourth wall and discuss the many stories occuring in the city feel very cheesy and unnecessary. Add to that the use of subtitles throughout the film when Italian characters are speaking which can be rather distracting and To Rome With Love can be a somewhat distant experience - although saying that, it's either we watch subtitles or learn fluent Italian to enjoy the movie to its fullest.
To combat this, however, we have superb performances from a very broad range of acting talent. Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page have fantastic chemistry together and, despite their characters' unsympathetic storyline, we are very emotionally invested. I for one hope this isn't the last time we see these two young superstars on screen together. Alec Baldwin also provides some excellent comic relief, often hilariously popping up in the most bizarre places alongside Eisenberg to offer some not-so-welcome advice. As for Woody Allen, his character is a little annoying but it soon becomes clear his intentions are honest and the actor/director is just as good as he has always been. The supporting cast of Italian greats are also brilliant, particularly with their physical comedic timing.Rome itself, however, is not given any particularly highlight during the film. Unlike Midnight In Paris, where the French capital is a principal character within itself, To Rome With Love uses the "eternal city" as more of a convenient backdrop for these characters to meet or have their stories played out. While this is fair enough, as the movie is a comedic character study, it really feels like the film could have taken place anywhere else. To Rome With Love isn't really a suitable title for a film that doesn't particularly show any love to Rome - more affection for the eccentricity of people and the antics they get into.
Summary
Overall though, To Rome With Love is very funny and hugely enjoyable to watch. The unconnected short stories are structured brilliantly, with each finding its own fulfilling conclusion. The acting is also fantastic, and despite slightly alienating factors such as subtitles and cultural references to Italy and its capital city that we may not always understand, superb performances from Eisenberg, Page and even Woody Allen himself ensure the movie stays on track and keeps our interest high.
The only gripes are a lack of attention given to the city itself, making the film's title a little redundant, as well as sequences at the start and the end of the film that break the fourth wall and take away from the atmosphere. Those looking for something similar to Midnight In Paris will also be disappointed as, despite sharing the same continent, the movies are worlds apart. That said, Woody Allen's latest is a great romantic comedy and will definitely make you laugh, thus achieving its goal.
7/10 - Very Good
See it if you liked: Love Actually (2003), New Year's Eve (2011), The Five Year Engagement (2012).
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