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Everybody knows Woody Allen goes in cycles. Slapstick, witty, serious, social commentary, and er, musical. Which means that "Small Time Crooks" - the latest outing from the Big Apple whiner, is appropriately... fun.
Much of the film's success stems from Woody realising that nobody plays him quite like he does, thankfully ditching the Branaghs to return as Ray Winkler, a hilariously inept thief. Married to Frenchy (Ullman, having the time of her life), Ray enlists the help of fellow divvies Denny, Benny, and Tommy, then tells his wife to part with her nest egg, and takes the lease on a vacant shop so that he can tunnel into the next door bank. To maintain the charade, he convinces her to start up a homemade cookie store.
And it's here that things take a turn for the decidedly wacky. Because as the bumbling crooks endlessly fail to pull off the heist, Frenchy's tasty morsels become a mega-hit and before they know it, it's all big business and even bigger cash. Soon the taste-free Winklers find themselves caught up in high society and mixing with toffs like David (Grant). But whereas Frenchy wants to improve their station, Ray craves a return to their normal, spaghetti-and-meatball-driven lives.
Following a gag-filled first half, "Small Time Crooks" does wither slightly, but Allen's trademark wit is always in full force. Aided by a talented comedic cast, every joke hits the mark, from the pratfalls to Woody's sophisticated satire. All in all, a movie that proves when Allen does it right, there's few better.
See Hugh Grant interviewed about "Small Time Crooks" on Film 2000.
See Woody Allen interviewed about "Small Time Crooks" on Film 2000.
