ElMaruecan82
There are three stories in "Small Time Crooks": the heist, the 'nouveau riche' life and the way these two aspects overlap with standard Allen's themes like infidelity, marriage, couple misunderstandings etc. Woody Allen could've made three movies out of these promising ideas, but their combination leaves a feeling of decreasing fun as the plot advances.The first act is brilliant, and for once that Allen goes back to his roots: flat-out, zany and smart comedy, it's a shame that it didn't last longer. The level of comedy is on the same level of hilarity than the botched hold-up scene in "Take the Money and Run". Some say Allen always plays the neurotic, intelligent yet socially inept New Yorker, but playing dumb yet street-smart losers is one of his strongest suits too.I loved everything about the first part, starting with the interactions between Allen as Ray and Tracey Ullman as his wife Frenchy, she's absolutely believable as a woman who'd endure 25 years of marriage with an annoying, whining prick, because a former racketeer, and she used to be a burlesque's show sensation, in a way, they deserve each other and they have the kind of past that can only make the future brighter. Even the pivotal moment of the film occurs during a sunset and the name they give to their cookie shop is Sunset as if their motto could be "tomorrow is another day".So Ray's got an idea, robbing a bank by digging a tunnel from their new cookie restaurant, because it's the only thing Frenchy can cook, so they have the perfect cover. It's funny because when the film starts, all of Ray's future team workers ask for cookies and we never suspect that these cookies will be more efficient than the shovels... not to mention the robbers' IQ, all bubbling under the 'average' limit. Michael Rapaport's Denny can't figure why a quarter is smaller than one third and uses his coal miner's hat baseball-cap style, to look cool, Ray reads the map upside down, Tony Darrow, seems like about to pull a 'Goodfella' at anytime and Jon Lovitz is a pragmatic pyromaniac, who uses insurance money to pay his kids' scholarship.Frenchy is the only person of sane mental health, which is not saying much, but she's one helluva cook. Her cookies work so well she can't make and sell them so she hires her blabbing cousin May (Elaine May). Things escalate quickly as May has one word too many with a cop, and the next day, he arrests Ray and his gang. But within their misfortune, they're lucky, because the cop who's enjoyed the cookies from the start wants his share of the loot, so he has an idea: franchise. And with the magic of movies' ellipses, we get to a news report with Steve Kroft and you see all the small-time crooks, acting like serious businessmen, and this is one the funniest five minutes from a Woody Allen movies, and he's made a lot.To see these loonies acting like the kind of persons you see in Forbes' or Business-related magazines is too delightful for words. Now, I'm certainly no screen writing expert, although I have some notions, and I won't dare to criticize Allen's talent, but I wonder if there was a way to make that Business report, the movie's highlight. I guess not because the corporate part was only meant to show how a New York couple of schmucks can handle wealth, having the two opposite reactions in the husband and the wife. But the company was such a great moment that it was difficult to match it, I laughed at the many attempts of Frenchy to fit within the New York aristocracy, and Allen's desperation to stick to his vulgar and crass roots but it wasn't as funny as the first act.Maybe it wasn't meant to, and Allen thought it was time to make the film 'evolve' just like Frenchy saw it as the ultimate opportunity to 'evolve', to meet with real people, to learn things, to visit places etc. but while her first attempt to please the upper side of New York lamentably failed (and she convincingly played the pathetic 'nouveau riche') her 'attitude' evolved, she didn't want to please, she wanted to be credible. So she hired a suave, educated and sophisticated Englishman, played by Hugh Grant, started to learn the dictionary and to improve her speech mannerisms. The film becomes a little like "Manhattan Murder Mystery", the wife wants to move forward but the husband can't follow.Except that this time, the husband is a bit right when his reactions seem to say "who're you kidding?" Frenchy tries to outsmart him but she's not fooling anyone, not even her Pygmalion. The opposition between Frenchy and Ray inspires some funny moments. When they visit a museum, Allen is asked about the differences between the two paintings, I reckon I was already chuckling at the question, and I didn't even think an answer could ever make me laugh as the anticipation of a hilarious answer... yet it did. Another highlight is in the underground theater scene, but I wished there was a more eloquent reaction than Ray sleeping, a line would've certainly been a killer.And this is where the comedic mechanisms started to derail. In the first part, Allen was kind of playing his usual shtick but with a purpose, the robbery was the goal, he then became a passive character, more of comments-throwers while Frenchy was driving the show. The film had a bitter feeling of déjà vu! couples seeking different things, friendships leading to romances, and a bitchy Karma that is so well-written it doesn't feel like a Deus (or Diabolicus) Ex Machina.The ending is satisfying inasmuch as we developed a fondness on Frenchy, and we're glad she understands by the end, that money can't buy nor happiness… and tomorrow is another day.
roystephen-81252
To me, Woody Allen is at his best when he makes us laugh and cry at the same time. When I first saw this film in the movie theatre, I found it thoroughly entertaining, but more in the same vein as his "early funny ones" than his later, deeper work (Crimes & Misdemeanors, Husbands & Wives and the like). Upon repeated viewing, though, I realised I had been wrong. It is light-hearted and funny on the surface, but much much deeper than it first seems. It has really grown on me since and has become one of my favourites. The cast are all superb, from Tracey Ullman to Hugh Grant, even Woody gives one of his best performances of his career. Highly recommended for both fans of Woody's funny ones and of his more serious dramas.
TheLittleSongbird
As someone who has loved or really liked(although from about 5 or 6 disappointments) most of what they've seen so far of Woody Allen's filmography(28 as of now), there was a lot to like about Small Time Crooks. But compared to a lot of Allen's other films, it was also uneven and disappointing. Getting onto the many good stuff, Small Time Crooks is beautifully photographed and there is a great use of locations, which look similarly great. Most of the acting is great, especially from Tracy Ullman who is splendid and Elaine May who is ditsy, charming and her comic timing is priceless. Woody Allen- whose directing I don't have a problem with here- gives a good performance too that does remind you of some of his earlier work. Jon Lovitz and Michael Rappaport are a lot of fun in the little screen time we see them in. The first half is great as well, with very witty and sharp writing that feels like a throwback to Allen's earlier wisecrack comedies and that was part of the appeal. In typical Allen fashion as well there is a lot to say on issues and relationships and it's done insightfully. The three main characters are compellingly drawn. Sadly, the second half doesn't match up, the pace sags, the writing is not as witty and sometimes take a patronising approach and the characters that made the first half entertaining disappear and are forgotten about seemingly. And while as said the acting is fine, Lovitz and Rappaport did deserve more to do, Elaine Stritch is pretty wasted and I wasn't enamoured by Hugh Grant here either, his character was underwritten and the performance felt too much of a self-parody. The story is not as interesting in this half either with some plot strands underdeveloped and clumsily resolved. In conclusion, enjoyable, well made and performed but lesser and uneven Woody Allen. 6/10 Bethany Cox
Christian_Dimartino
Woody Allen,Tracey Ullman,and Hugh Grant star in Small time crooks. Small time crooks is strictly a comedy. You know that from the opening scene. It's a funny and fun film that goes in directions that you don't expect.Allen plays a crook. Him and his wife(Tracey Ullman) live in New York. When him and his gang of crooks(Michael Rappaport,Jon Lovitz and others) try to break into a bank by crawling through a ditch underneath a cookie shop, they are mistaken for trying to expand a cookie company. so instead of robbing a bank,everyone gets money from the cookie business.A year goes by. Everyone is rich. Ullman's character tries to get into the arts in stuff when she meets a wealthy man(Hugh Grant) and sort of falls for him. But it turns out that he has no interest in her,he just wants her money.Small time crooks is funny. You know that it's going to be from the beginning. It's not as good as some of Allen's other works. Such as Match point, Manhattan,Vicky Cristina Barcelona,and others. No I didn't mention Annie Hall not because I haven't seen it but because i'm not that crazy about it. It's not his best but it's not his worst. I've seen over ten of his films. I can judge.Overall, Small time crooks is funny and fun and mischievous and I enjoyed it like I enjoy all of his films. Simply, it's not his best,but not his worst. I think we can leave it that, and call it a day.Thumbs up.B+
