Woody Allen returns to his slapstick days with this comic romp, which centers on a small-time hood, Ray Winkler, who just can't catch a break. It's as if Virgil Starkwell (Allen's hysterically incompetent criminal mastermind from TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN) has finally gotten out of prison and is still up to his old scheming. .. Read more
| Starring | Hugh Grant, Tracey Ullman, Woody Allen, Michael Rapaport |
|---|---|
| Director | Woody Allen |
| Genres | Comedy |
loading...
Woody Allen returns to his slapstick days with this comic romp, which centers on a small-time hood, Ray Winkler, who just can't catch a break. It's as if Virgil Starkwell (Allen's hysterically incompetent criminal mastermind from TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN) has finally gotten out of prison and is still up to his old scheming. Against his wife Frenchy's (Tracey Ullman) better judgment, Ray puts together a ragtag group of misfits, including a scene-stealing Elaine May, and immerses them in a crazy plot to rob a bank. But everything gets upended when their front, a cookie store, takes off, thrusting the Winklers into the upper echelons of New York's high society.
SMALL TIME CROOKS looks like no other Allen film; gone are the black-and-white shades of Manhattan, replaced instead by the ridiculously loud shirts Ray wears and the perfectly garish furniture and artwork Frenchy accumulates. Even the Allen soundtrack, usually exclusively jazz, big band, and Dixieland standards, features "Tequila" by the Champs as an underlying theme. What stands out most of all, however, is the offbeat, charming relationship between Ray and Frenchy, two ne'er-do-wells who get to spend a little time at the top.
| Starring | Hugh Grant, Tracey Ullman, Woody Allen, Michael Rapaport, Jon Lovitz, Elaine May, Elaine Stritch, George Grizzard |
|---|---|
| Director | Woody Allen |
| Studio | CINEMA CLUB |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 30 mins |
| Certificate |  |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | Production year: 2000 To Rent: DVD: not available |
Allen's return to the broader comedy of his first films is only partly successful; there's an unpleasant snobbery about the jokes aimed at the nouveau riche and those who patronise and exploit them.
- 4
- 1
good effort.
A seemingly lower scale Woody effort at first; but.. I dunno, the story grows in stature and scope as it goes along, because far more than the general beginning... read more »
[Highly rated reviewer]
- 1
- 0
Allen at his best
A story of stupid people trying to hit big bucks through crime. They fail spectacularly but the big time comes their way via Frenchy, the wife of the lead ... read more »
- 2
- 0
Lots of fun
Nothing too sophisticated - but tons of fun for some undemanding viewing.
Tony
- 2
- 0
Classic Woody
This is Allen returning to his old school humour. Its a great rags to riches story with some moral dilemmas thrown in. Tracy Ullman puts in a great performance ... read more »
Want to watch something right now?
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | EULA | Affiliates | Jobs | Inside LOVEFiLM Blog | About Us | Contact Us
International sites UK DK DE SE NO
LOVEFiLM, the LOVEFiLM logo and all other LOVEFiLM product or service names are trade marks of LOVEFiLM International Ltd. or its affiliates.
© 2012 LOVEFiLM UK Ltd. or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
100% from 1 member
