Zelig is a mockumentary following the misadventures of Leonard Zelig, a mild mannered depression era New Yorker who's just trying to fit in. Zelig has an unusual attribute. He wants to be accepted so badly by people, that he actually takes on the physical and mental attributes of whoever he's mixing with at any given time.
If he's with someone who's Chinese, he immediately begins to look oriental. If he's with someone who's morbidly obese, he packs on the pounds before their eyes. If he's with a doctor, he starts blabbering about medical conditions, etc. The scientists are baffled by Zelig's condition, and the public is captivated by him. It seems that no-one can cure him until he meets Dr. Eudora Fletcher. That's about all I can say without giving too much away.
It's surprising how much Forrest Gump ripped this off. Zelig is a much more intelligent film though. The doctored footage of Zelig with famous historical figures of the time is a lot more convincing than the half-arsed CGI of Forrest Gump. The whole film is really a fantasy for those who are so different to others that they can't fit in, and wish they could blend in with the crowd. It has the usual plethora of Allen's one liners, although it is more out there than most of his movies. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but Woody Allen fans should check it out. |