Scoop

Sid Waterman: I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you. You know I just… it has to be done properly. You know, we gotta put our heads together. Sondra Pransky: If we put our heads together, you’ll hear a hollow noise. A lighthearted romp that reaches for a madcap quality and sometimes gets close. Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson are delightful and Woody Allen as the illusionist Sid Waterman is funny throughout. It’s clear Johansson was going for a different vibe than her character in the previous year’s Match Point, which amped up her raw sexuality and let her indulge in a darkly unhinged performance that fit that movie’s tone. Here, she’s no less stunning and her performance is almost a throwback, bringing to mind an old school Hollywood comedic performance with fast line delivery that suits the role and showcases her range. Not the best from Woody but certainly an enjoyable movie.