Play It Again, Sam

Year of Release:  1972
Director:  Herbert Ross  
Screenplay:  Woody Allen, based on the stage play Play It Again, Sam by Woody Allen
Starring:  Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, Tony Roberts
Running Time:  85 minutes

In this film written by Woody Allen, and based on his 1969 Broadway play, San Francisco film critic Allan Felix (Allen) is broken-hearted since his recent divorce.  His best friend Dick (Roberts) and Dick's wife, Linda (Keaton), try and help as best they can by setting him up on a succession of disastrous dates.  However Allan finds himself increasingly drawn to Linda, who is herself feeling neglected by her workaholic husband.  Allan's secret weapon in his quest for love, is romantic advice from none other than a ghostly Humphrey Bogart (Jerry Lacy).

Despite not having Allen in the director's chair and the move to San Francisco than Allen's more usual Manhattan locations, this definitely has the feel of early seventies Woody Allen, when he was still making more conventionally comedic films (the "early funny ones") rather than his more philosophical comedies.  This definitely isn't one of his best.  It's more amusing than actually funny, several jokes will raise a smile but not much will get a laugh.  The film frequently flits between reality and Allan's memories and fantasies.  There are times when the film's origins on the stage are quite obvious (for example Allan's conversations with the imaginary Bogart, even when out in public don't elicit any kind of reaction).

The central premise of the film is interesting, with the idea of how viewers react and connect with characters on screen, a theme that Allen would return to in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985).  Diane Keaton gives the film it's life and lifts every scene she appears in, to the point that when she's not on screen her absence is felt.  There is also a fun running gag with the workaholic Dick constantly phoning the office to give the number of where he is and where he is going (those pre cellphone days!).

However, as so often with Woody Allen his character is more annoying than sympathetic, and it's really not that funny a film.  I would also warn that a lot of the humour is quite un-PC, and it does include a rape joke which leaves quite a sour taste.