Zelig (1983)

Poster from the Internet Movie Database
Before I begin the review, I want to say that I love Woody Allen and his style of comedy. I really enjoyed his most recent, Hollywood Ending. But this one didn't have as many laughs as his other ones.

Allen plays Leonard Zelig, a "human chameleon". He can change his appearance to whatever his surroundings are. I enjoy this type of "fantasy" movie (like Purple Rose of Cairo, but I didn't like the documentary style in which it was brought to us in.

Mia Farrow plays a psychiatrist who tries to "wean" Leonard off of his changing ways by giving him more self-confidence. He changes because he wants to fit in with everybody else.

I didn't find it too funny, but there were a couple scenes (like the pair of Siamese twins, for example), that cracked me up. I liked how Allen took old news reels and transfixed himself in it (I love the Hitler scene). It would be used almost 20 years later in Kung Pow!.

I believed Farrow's and Allen's romance, because he didn't seem to be double her age. As I've said before, the documentary style is nice, but I didn't like it. If it had played in "real movie format", it would have been better.

Also, the movie laster about 80 minutes, yet it still seemed too long. The droll of the narrator, and the "historians", droned on and on. The plot I liked a lot, but if they didn't do it in a documentary style, it would have been nicer.

Don't get me wrong, I liked this film a lot. There just weren't too many laughs. I enjoyed the fantasy part of the film a lot, and that's what's earned it it's 6.

Rated PG. (I didn't hear anything objectional)

Review DAte: August 21, 2002