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It’s been a while since we’ve heard from prolific (and controversial) filmmaker Woody Allen—not since 2017’s .nightsandweekends.com/articles/17/NW1700157.php>Wonder Wheel. But now he’s back for the long-delayed release of A Rainy Day in New York, a New York City romance that takes plenty of jabs at Hollywood.
A Rainy Day in New York ventures into the Big Apple with aimless rich kid Gatsby (Timothée Chalamet) and his girlfriend, Ashleigh (Elle Fanning), after she’s given the chance to interview a legendary film director. Eager to show his girlfriend the best that Manhattan has to offer, he plans a weekend in the finest hotels and restaurants. But then Ashleigh’s interview turns into an all-day adventure, and Gatsby finds himself running into old friends while trying to avoid his parents and the party they’re throwing for their pretentious friends.
Allen is known for his breezy romances between captivating—and often quirky—characters. Unfortunately, none of these characters here are especially likable, nor do they feel authentic. Gatsby is the epitome of the poor little rich kid. He’s bored with his parents, their expectations, and their money, but he has no intention of walking away from the handouts, either. And while Allen seems to want the character to sound like an old soul who loves classic art and old movies and piano bars, he mostly just comes off as the idea of a hip college kid as written by an octogenarian.
Ashleigh, meanwhile, is awkward and flighty and often painful to watch. Though she’s supposed to be a talented aspiring journalist, her interview and overall professionalism are mostly forgotten as she finds herself caught up in the whims of these powerful men, accepting their inappropriate comments and advances with wide-eyed wonder and giggles. Not only is the character’s demeanor irritating, but the storyline seems incredibly tone-deaf (or maybe just shamefully gutsy) for a filmmaker who’s faced repeated scrutiny and scandal.
Allen has written and directed some classic rom-coms with some memorable characters. He’s known for his classic style and his snappy dialogue. But, here, the dialogue seems forced, and the characters just fall flat. While the style is still here, it seems as though Allen tried to take a film from the ‘60s and produce it today—and it simply doesn’t work.
Admittedly, Allen’s films have always tended to be hit-or-miss. He’s made some unforgettable films and some films that viewers would rather forget. And with its awkward dialogue and tone-deaf story, A Rainy Day in New York is one of the latter.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
