Perhaps it's his love of New York City showing through. Perhaps it's the fact that he finally has a co-star with whom he has some actual chemistry. Or perhaps it's the fact that he can relate so well with his main character.
For whatever reason, "Hollywood Ending" is Woody Allen's loosest-limbed — and therefore, best — comedy in many a moon.
That's something of a surprise, especially when you consider that it's heavy on movie-industry parodies — which isn't just a cliche, it's also something that probably should be a bit beneath a filmmaker as experienced as Allen.
But somehow he manages to breathe life into this somewhat tired premise. And even if the film does run out of steam with about 30 minutes to go, the funny punchline is definitely worth sticking around for. (It should also be noted that, though the film does include some profanity and sex talk, it's surely one of the tamest PG-13 movies out right now.)
"Hollywood Ending" stars Allen as Val Waxman, a once-prominent filmmaker who's sunk so low that he can't even get commercial work. His personal life isn't much happier. Though he's now living with a much-younger actress (Debra Messing), Val is still stinging from the fact that his ex-wife Ellie (Tea Leoni) left him for the head of a movie studio (Treat Williams).
Though they are separated, Ellie still has feelings for Val. She's even maneuvering for him to direct an upcoming "prestige picture," a big-budget thriller titled "The City That Never Sleeps."
Needless to say, Val is excited, albeit nervous, about that opportunity. In fact, he's so nervous that he suffers from psychosomatic blindness. So he and his agent (Mark Rydell) scheme to have him "direct blind," hoping that his sight will return once he relaxes.
The ending here is predictable, but on whole the film is considerably livelier than Allen's last few works (especially last year's "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion," which saw him at one of his lowest points).
Much of the success of "Hollywood Ending" has to do with Allen and Leoni working so well together. Their nearly constant verbal sparring is amusing and seems believable, and there's at least one memorable sight gag to make you laugh out loud.
The supporting cast is similarly impressive, especially Messing, who plays a ditsy fitness nut, and George Hamilton, who (gulp!) steals nearly every scene he's in.
"Hollywood Ending" is rated PG-13 for scattered use of strong profanity, some drug content (abuse of prescription drugs) and some vulgar sexual talk. Running time: 114 minutes.
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