Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by TAFKA Steve (i) on May 27, 2000 at 19:43:03:

Woody Allen's "Small Time Crooks" is an entertaining slapstick comedy that is a cross between "Take The Money And Run", "Pygmalion", and "I Love You To Death" (in fact, a double feature with this last film would make for a hilarious evening). Woody looks like an unmade bed throughout and doesn't chase younger women (for once). Tracy Chapman is excellent as his ambitious wife and Elaine May makes a welcome return to film as her dimbulb cousin. The pacing is irregular, slowing to a crawl when the newly-rich couple try to become "cultured", but there are enough dialog zingers to keep the audience laughing. Not one of Allen's better films, but a mediocre Woody is better than no Woody at all (did I just quote Tony Randall?).