EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU

Since Annie Hall, Woody Allen films have been synonymous with humourous looks at neurotic New Yorkers (usually including Allen himself) and their disastrous love lives. Everyone Says I Love You is no exception, featuring enough psychoses and hang-ups to keep a psychiatrist in business for years, plus a healthy dose of upper-middle class American angst and soul-searching into the bargain.

What makes the film slightly out of the ordinary however is that it is a musical, the characters breaking into old-time song and dance numbers whenever they get the chance. Although this takes some getting used to at first, ultimately it becomes a very enjoyable aspect of the movie - particularly the big choreographed routines. What makes it even more amusing is the at times inappropriate situations in which the musical numbers feature, such as those in the hospital or the funeral home. Added to this, the actors themselves perform the singing duties, with varying degrees of success (Julia Roberts' voice should be investigated by the military as a potential lethal weapon, for instance).

Plotwise, the film concerns itself with the lives and loves of an extended wealthy New York family, and is really little more than a slice-of-life bittersweet comedy. Full of Allen's usual witticisms and wry observations, and featuring some great performances from Allen, Goldie Hawn, Alan Alda, Julia Roberts, Drew Barrymore and Tim Roth (superb as a supposedly rehabilitated ex-convict), Everyone Says I Love You is an ensemble piece, consistently lightly amusing without containing any huge belly laughs.

As a musical comedy, the film succeeds on both levels, and the original style is refreshing and enjoyable without appearing too stilted. If you like Woody Allen, you'll like the plot and the characters; if you like musicals, you'll enjoy the songs (with the possible exception of Roberts' calamitous catterwaul) - in short, Everyone Says I Love You should appeal to those that know what to expect. It is unlikely however to win Allen many new converts, but I found it extremely enjoyable and amusing.

Neuroses to music. 9/10