Movie Review: To Rome With Love (2012)

To Rome With Love is Woody Allen's new comedy - kind of sequel of Midnight In Paris. Obviously this is not Annie Hall, Match Point or Hannah and Her Sister or any of Woody's masterpieces. But is above average story of common people visiting Rome, living in Rome or moving to Rome.

The film tells three separate stories of Roman citizens, tourists and dreamers. They are as independent from each other as the most people's lives in the whole world. 

Leopoldo (Roberto Beningni) lives a mundane life with his wife and two children. The best part of his day is watching his boss’s beautiful secretary Serafina walk around the office. One day, he wakes up one morning to discover that he has become a national celebrity. Paparazzi document his every movement. He begins dating models and attending fancy film premieres. However later Leopoldo welcomes the return to his old life. But one afternoon he breaks down when no one asks for his autograph. Leopoldo has learned that life can be monotonous and wearying whether one is a celebrity or a normal man. Still, it’s much better to be a weary celebrity than it is to be a weary regular man.

American tourist Hayley (Alison Pill) falls in love with Italian guy Michelangelo and they get engaged. Her parents Jerry (Woody Allen) and Phyllis (Judy Davis) fly to Italy to meet her fiance and his parent. The cultural differences of two different families make the start of relations quite complicated.

Another story is about a love affair between Jack (Jesse Eisenberg) and a friend of his girlfriend who seems quite spooky and less likable for Jack. But everything turns upside-down when they get each other known well.

Jerry and Phyllis

The movie is uniquely well written and directed. I liked some jokes that Woody Allen always makes funnier. The flow of story is pretty simple and relaxing and I felt like Allen made a "writing" vacation by making this film. It is the kind of movie that are produced by acclaimed directors when they are on their way retirement. But I see that retiring Allen can be better than most of modern directors.  

I can not imagine better cast for a family movie, their performances are just super. Even first time actors, who played Italian newly married couple made each of their minute spectacular. Even though I don't speak Italian, their mimics, acting behavior and professionalism translated the script in totally understandable language.

If To Rome With Love was someone else's film it could seem to be more masterpiece, but this is really not. However it helped me to spend my spear time enjoyably and I'm somehow satisfied spectator. In particular, there is nothing much wrong about this movie and the only thing you've got to say is I Liked It.

And that's what I'm saying: I liked the movie, go ahead and watch it no matter you're going to love this or not. It's Woody and you can't miss it. 

7/10