Sleeper (1973)

Woody Allen established his knack for intelligent, fast-paced, screwball comedies with 1973's Sleeper. This "nostalgic look at the future" is a comic romp, with Woody having obvious fun as Miles Monroe, a man who goes in for a routine operation in the early 1970's, and wakes up in the distant future. Poking fun at science, God, sex, and technology, Woody and company plow through jokes at a relentless pace. For fans of Allen who have never seen one of his older "less intelligent" comedies, this is the one to see first; unlike Love and Death, you don't have to be acquainted with Russian literature or such heady themes to be "in" on these futuristic gags (like the brilliant Orgasmatron!).

Diane Keaton, appearing in only her second Woody Allen film, is perfect as Luna Schlosser, a pseudo-intellectual futuristic poet with a "PhD in oral sex". Through a rather random and bizarre chain of events, Miles winds up disguised as robotic servant in her home, and finds himself attracted to her. Eventually, she discovers he is not a robot, but rather a man trying to escape the men who wish to make him a leader of the Revolution. Many wild plot twists ensue, and there is more than enough laughter to fill in the various holes in the story. The film is very quickly paced, like an earlier studio comedy of sorts (Bringing up Baby), and Keaton and Allen once again demonstrate their wonderful chemistry, playing off each other like old pros. Allen's vision of the future isn't necessarily made clear, nor is it probably supposed to be, but he does fill it with giant fruit, robotic servants and dogs, orgasm machines, some very odd drug that is received by touching a large ball in your hands, and a "country" led by an ear (just watch, it will all make sense, I promise). Allen also provided the jazzy, old time soundtrack that runs throughout the film, composing and playing with his jazz group "Woody Allen's Preservation Hall Jazz Band". Sleeper isn't an "important" film in Allen's filmography, but is definitely one of his best in terms of pure comedy and a Marx Brothers inspired style of lunacy.

Release Date: December 17, 1973

Domestic Total Gross: $18,344,729

Distributor: United Artists

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