See it at the Movies

CAFE SOCIETY

By Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 8/4/16

* * ½

(Unrequited love from Woody Allen)

Our annual movie from Woody Allen features Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart as young friends who, under different circumstances, would have made …

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See it at the Movies

CAFE SOCIETY

Posted

* * ½

(Unrequited love from Woody Allen)

Our annual movie from Woody Allen features Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart as young friends who, under different circumstances, would have made the ideal couple.

Set in Hollywood and New York City in the 1930s, the movie has a nice nostalgic feeling to it, from vintage cars to clothing to the music and lifestyles of the upper crust.

There’s lots of the Woody Allen philosophy, which doesn’t change much from film to film, making his movies very “talky.”

Eisenberg plays Bobby Dorfman, nephew of Hollywood agent Bill Stern (Steve Carell), who gives him a “gofer” job and introduces him to his secretary (Stewart), who we later learn is involved with her married-with-children boss.

Bobby returns to New York City to run his gangster brother’s nightclub, marries and has children. Stern divorces his wife of 26 years and marries Vonnie. Bobby and Vonnie meet years later, and we are taken into the “what-if” challenge the two young people must face.

Once again, Allen throws a lot of his philosophy at you, leaving you with some interesting characters. Carell’s character gains some sympathy without being that likable.

If you are a Woody Allen fan, this yearly dose of his writing and directing may satisfy you. We could use a bit more substance.

Rated PG-13, with some violence. In the ’30s, it seemed like everybody smoked.

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