Woody Allen’s latest film was initially going to be titled Bop Decameron; that was scrapped and it became To Rome with Love, for better or for worse. But it gets the viewer ready for what’s in store: the set is stunning. But of course it’s stunning: it’s Rome.
Four stories make up To Rome with Love; when Allen wrote it the only connection he had in mind was that each story takes place in Rome. However, they all have a theme of fame and personal achievement.
Story one revolves around an accomplished architect (Alec Baldwin) who revisits his youth when he comes across his younger self (Jesse Eisenberg). A love triangle forms when Eisenberg’s girlfriend lets her recently dumped best friend (Ellen Page) stay with them.
The second story is of an American couple (Woody Allen and Judy Davis) who fly to Rome to meet their daughter’s fiancé. Allen plays the American father who discovers that his future son-in-law’s dad (still following us here?) has a beautiful singing voice and wants to exploit his talent.
The third story is heavy with Marx Brothers influence: a newlywed couple (Alessandro Tiberi and Alessandra Mastronardi) arrive in Rome for their honeymoon. The wife gets lost in the city and the husband gets mistaken for another man when a “paid in full” prostitute (Penelope Cruz) shows up at the hotel room.
The fourth is of an ordinary Roman (Roberto Benigni) who wakes up one morning and is inexplicably famous. Until that point, he’d been a man who gave his opinion whether it was asked for or not, then, boom! Cameras are in his face asking how he likes his toast.
Throughout the whole movie, the dialogue at times seemed slightly awkward, but overall the strong cast managed to pull off what seemed like a rushed script. The movie certainly has its funny moments; actually, some of them are laugh-out-loud funny. Had Allen taken the time to develop the dialogue some more, just strengthen it a bit more, this movie would have been fantastic instead of just okay.
To Rome with Love opens in Victoria Friday, July 13