Anything Else (2003)

When an aspiring young writer (Jason Biggs) falls head over heels in love with a free spirited but neurotic young woman (Christina Ricci), he soon discovers he's going to have to work doubly hard to make their relationship work. Written and directed by Woody Allen (ANNIE HALL). Woody Allen in a rut! The material seems recycled from other (and better) Allen movies. At this stage of his career, Allen was too old to play the romantic lead anymore so Jason Biggs stands in. But Biggs delivers his performance full of the usual Woody Allen tics and phrasing and while Allen plays his mentor with the usual Allen tics and phrasing. The film was made during one of Allen's worst periods (2000-2004) as a filmmaker with forgettable movies like CURSE OF THE JADE SCORPION, HOLLYWOOD ENDING, MELINDA AND MELINDA among them. Certainly not his worst film (that would be WHATEVER WORKS) but there's some compensation from Darius Khondji's (MARTY SUPREME) loving wide screen (one of Allen's few films in the scope format) lensing of Manhattan. With Stockard Channing, Danny DeVito, Jimmy Fallon and Diana Krall.