Match Point (or When Is A Woody Allen Film Not A Woody Allen Film?)

Americans are going to love Match Point as much as the Brits have disliked it. There is lots to admire in the film, especially when you consider that Woody Allen is such a genre unto himself and he has managed to break out of that so squarely.

Basically, the coach from Bend It Like Beckham is now a pro tennis player come instructor at some swanky English country club, meets some toff, then meets and falls for (or does he?) sister-toff and is taken in by mummy-toff and papa-toff, then he falls for crass American girl just back from Tokyo (or does he? well, yes he does) who also happens to be fiancé of afforementioned toff.

It is all VERY British, maybe a little TOO British; the toffs are a little caricatured and everything is a little calculated and even stilted. If you didn't know it was directed by an American, and such a prominent figure at that, you could easily believe that it was made by a Brit but, knowing what you know, you can sit there and see why it is so obviously an outsiders view. Maybe that makes it more interesting? Discuss!

There is really nobody to care for here so when the plot dog-legs I found myself saying, "Whatever, bit out of the blue, but, whatever." In the end though, you may find yourself walking out of the film thinking, as I did, that you actually wanted to get something else from the film that should have been there but wasn't (something I have found quite often with Allen of late). Cryptic? Go see for yourself then you may understand.

Tags: movie review, Woody Allen