"I don't tan, I stroke." (Play It Again Sam (DVD))

Member Name: Jake Speed

Product:	Play It Again Sam (DVD)
Date:	03/03/08 (150 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the funniest films ever made

Disadvantages: Erm...

Play It Again Sam was first released in 1972 and is an adaption of Woody Allen's earlier stage play. While Allen agreed to reprise his acting role for the film version he declined to direct and the capable Herbert Ross was chosen instead. For this reason Play It Again Sam is slightly more conventional and plot driven than the free-wheeling comedies Allen was directing himself in during this period - but no less funny. If anything, Play It Again Sam is quintessential Allen and right up there with his funniest films.

In the film Allen plays Allan Felix, a neurotic film critic struggling to cope with life after the sudden departure of his wife. Before she leaves she labels him one of life's 'watchers' and complains that he isn't as attentive or interesting as he used to be when they first met. "You can't expect me to keep up that level of charm," whines Felix. "I'd have a heart-attack." The film begins with Felix at a screening of Casablanca. We see he is completely wrapped up in the film and his slightly startled reaction when the film ends and the lights come on stresses the escape that cinema and art in general provides from harsh reality - a theme that Allen would return to in later films.

Felix conjures up the spirit of Humphrey Bogart to help restore his romantic self-confidence. The cool, assured Bogart is everything Felix wishes he could be. Bogart is nicely played by Jerry Lacy and appears at several points in the film. The contrast between the nerdy Felix and Bogart is very funny at times, especially a scene where Felix is persuaded to take a 'slug of bourbon' with predictably comic results.

Felix recieves more concrete help from his two friends, married couple Dick and Linda played by Allen's familiar co-stars Tony Roberts and Diane Keaton. To help their friend get over his ex-wife Dick and Linda set Felix up with some blind dates and this paves the way for some of the funniest scenes ever put on film. Businessman Dick tells Felix he has simply invested in losing stock that has now been wiped out. Now he has to dabble in the market again. "Who are you going to fix me up with," replies Felix. "General Motors?" Felix complains that he's 'out of practice' regarding dating and women. "When I was in practice I was out of practice," he adds.

In the blind date scenes Allen does the 'completely ill at ease and unable to say the right thing' routine as well as just about anyone can in a comedy film. These scenes are simply wonderful and great fun. The first date is one of the funniest scenes I have ever seen in a film. Felix attempts to be laid-back and confident but gets into such a nervous state that he ends up sending a record flying from its cover and smashing a chair over. Later, Felix is persuaded by Dick to ask out a girl from his office eating outside. Felix is so nervous he ends up fondling with the salad on their table! "It needed tossing anyway," he mumbles. For some reason I've always found this scene even funnier because Woody is eating an ice-cream at the time and nervously flings it over his shoulder when he is forced to approach the girl! Later his date attracts the attention of some bikers at a cafe. Allen does his cowardly but fast-talking Bob Hope thing to good effect. "Better get the kid back to the orphanage!" he announces. Later he tells Linda that his date ran off with them and he suspects they might have been hairdressers. Asked if he's ok he replies that he could do with a 'three foot band-aid.' You can see Diane Keaton laughing for real in this scene.

Dick is so wrapped up in his job (there is a running joke where he telephones his office from wherever he is to give them his new temporary number) that Felix and Linda spend more and more time together. Felix begins to realise that the person for him appears to be his best friend's wife...

Play It Again Sam is a charming little film. It stands up agaisnt the comedies he (Allen) was directing himself during this period but adds a bit more warmth and plot. The film is also very romantic. The more conventional structure (although the film contains fantasy sequences) gives a glimpse of the Allen that would emerge after 1975's Love and Death, and the link between art and reality is something that Allen would return to in the bittersweet Purple Rose Of Cairo. The film is also very pretty to look at and includes some beach scenes when the characters take a holiday. The main fun is to be had from Allen's clowning. There is a sequence where he attempts to dance with a woman that is just hilarious. Everything Woody Allen did around this era was, in my opinion, just very funny.

Although the film riffs on Casablanca, especially towards the end, the Bogart character isn't allowed to intrude too much on the film. Essentially this is a great vehicle for Woody Allen to do what he does best, deliver great one liners in a self-deprecating manner and generally be insecure and neurotic in comic situations.

Play It Again Sam is also a showcase for Diane Keaton, her chemistry with Allen is as funny and pleasant as ever and she has rarely been more appealing than she is here. The blossoming friendship and connection between Felix and Linda is very sweetly done. Play It Again Sam is set in San Francisco and the location gives the film a slightly bohemian air that is unusual for a Woody Allen film but great fun nonetheles, especially with seventies fashions.

Overall, Play It Again Sam is one of the funniest films ever made. It's a smallish film but very endearing with a wonderful cast. It has some classic Woody lines ("I wonder if she actually had an orgasm in the two years we were married or did she fake it that night?") and its slight departure from the loose episodic Allen comedies of this period give it an extra level of interest.

If you like comedy films I'd recommended Play It Again Sam. They really don't make them like this anymore.

Extras

Woody Allen doesn't do extras so you'll just get a very basic package.

Summary: Great fun