Near the end of Anything Else, Woody Allen's character tells his comedy writing partner, played by Jason Biggs, if he has to steal material, make sure he steals from the best. Allen has taken this to heart as he has basically rewritten Jane Austin's Emma. Not only has he given himself the role of Emma, but also given himself the best and funniest lines and made himself the least annoying character in the entire film.
There are some of the best one liners Allen has come up with in years here and he even gives a couple to Christina Ricci, but the characters are so contemptuous and obtuse that you want to throttle them all. This is probably Allen's plan so not only do you want to root for his newly discovered comedy writing partner, Jerry Falk (Biggs), to get out of every relationship he's in, but you are begging to have Allen back on the scene for a couple more laughs.
Purposely done? Probably; however, Allen is the master of the neurotic and he knows how to get under the skin of one especially Falk's girlfriend, Amanda (Ricci). Of course, Ricci knows how to play a sociopath. Just look at The Opposite Of Sex. But even this can't make anything else of Anything Else except an uncomfortable character study with a few good laughs.
There are some of the best one liners Allen has come up with in years here and he even gives a couple to Christina Ricci, but the characters are so contemptuous and obtuse that you want to throttle them all. This is probably Allen's plan so not only do you want to root for his newly discovered comedy writing partner, Jerry Falk (Biggs), to get out of every relationship he's in, but you are begging to have Allen back on the scene for a couple more laughs.
Purposely done? Probably; however, Allen is the master of the neurotic and he knows how to get under the skin of one especially Falk's girlfriend, Amanda (Ricci). Of course, Ricci knows how to play a sociopath. Just look at The Opposite Of Sex. But even this can't make anything else of Anything Else except an uncomfortable character study with a few good laughs.