Don't Drink the Water (1994)

Let's get one thing straight right off the bat: I LOVE WOODY ALLEN MOVIES. So, I think that gives my review at least some credence.Now, about this film: I feel that it wasted my time. There was virtually nothing redeeming about the movie. The acting was almost uniformly disappointing. It has an all-star cast but Woody managed to make them look like amateurs.The love interest – Michael J. Fox and Mayim Bialik – is completely unconvincing. Fox never once shows any real attraction. In fact, it feels more like he's trying to avoid her than to get together. And, though Bialik is well cast in that she looks like she could be the daughter of Woody and Julie, she's entirely miscast as a love foil for Fox; they look like an unlikely couple.Surprisingly, there was one scene, where Woody and his wife (Julie Kavner) connect – she starts to cry and he attempts to comfort her – in which there was a poignancy which I felt, and which allowed the jokes to really penetrate. Other than that, I think Woody took what could have been a terrific farce (in the positive sense) and turned it into a real farce.

I caught this on videotape and watched it over and over again - it's hilarious. The best comic performance by Fox, the best by Delouise (whom I normally loathe), great performances by all.Allen's performance (basically, he's playing his own father) is stunning in his effortless timing, and he directs the ensemble around him accordingly. The camera work is nothing special, but what do you expect from TV? That this made its way to television is itself part of the miracle.My own guess is that this is the production that Allen should have retired on - he hasn't made a dam' thing of interest since.But this is perfect.Flawlessly ridiculous - a precious gem of American comic theater.

let this be said at the outset...i feel quite strongly that i'm fully justified and totally willing to argue the point that woody allen is a genius. without question. but even the genius of Shakespeare failed him on occasion (see 'king john' if you require proof) this is an instance where allen's genius stepped out for a coffee leaving him alone to desperately struggle with this horrid piece of work. the characters are wooden and stale (dom deluise), the dialogue is strained and clichéd, the acting is surprisingly atrocious. usually one can count on at least allen himself delivering a strong performance, but alas, this does not occur here. julie kavner, who was absolutely brilliant in radio days, fails to shine in this context. mayim bialik is perfunctory, and michael j. fox is overly exuberant, marring his performance with too much ham. avoid this film if you can, especially if you wish to remain convinced of allen's infallibility. it is my opinion that this it is his worst effort.

For those who are familiar with Allen's work, this TV adaptation of the play will be no surprise: it's funny, well-timed and far superior to the miserable Jackie Gleason version (done before Woody had the clout to insist on filming it himself). TV regulars Michael J. Fox and Mayim Bialik play to their strengths (although I would have preferred Cusack and Danes, or other Woody regulars - I can't imagine these two were his first choice), and Allen and Kavner pick up where Oedipus Wrecks lets off. Not fantastic, but what do you want? It's TV.