'Anything Else' lacks Allen's usual luster

By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service

ANYTHING ELSE Two-and-a-Half Stars (Fair-to-Good) A lesser Woody Allen comedy with Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci, trapped in a typically neurotic relationship. Allen co-stars — winningly — as Biggs' friend and mentor. He also writes and directs. DreamWorks, 108 minutes.

Yet, that's exactly what it is — another Allen comedy about urbane angst, depicting life in New York City, neurotic affairs among neurotic characters, and featuring much debate on the big questions — life, death, love and sex. And though the two prime characters are of today's generation, the music is all Cole Porter and Billie Holiday. Yes, Allen also stars in the film (though you haven't seen him in the trailers).

But here's the good news: At 67, Allen sensibly gives up the romantic lead, handing that function to Biggs.

There isn't even the slightest inclination that Allen's character is interested in the nubile Ricci.

Instead, he plays the quirky, aging mentor, passing on his wit and wisdom (of a sort) to Biggs. In that function, he's quite amusing and likable.

Biggs plays Jerry Falk, a comedy writer frustrated by Amanda (Ricci), his live-in girlfriend. She has declined to engage in sex for six months (at least with him). She's a bundle of neuroses, mostly centered around weight issues. Even worse, Amanda's mother (Stockard Channing) moves in. Jerry is also under pressure to extend his contract with his shady manager (Danny DeVito).

"Anything Else" is slight Allen, at best; one of the filmmaker's weakest offerings. (A weak Allen film is still stronger than many of today's bland or sophomoric romantic comedies.) Here, too many of the jokes sound stale, like throwaways from earlier, better films.

More damning is Ricci's all-at-sea performance. She's a capable actress with a highly original (if odd) persona and look, but she doesn't seem to have a clue how to play one of Allen's typically neurotic New York women.

In a line that includes Diane Keaton, Mia Farrow, Tracy Ullman, Louise Lasser, Helen Hunt, Tea Leoni and others, Ricci is the odd woman out.

"Anything Else" would have been helped with "Anyone Else."

Rated R, with profanity, implied sex.