To Rome with Love (2012)

Back to Rome but this time instead of a harsh episodic WWII film, we have a surrealistic episodic comedy written and directed by Woody Allen.  There's the story of an older American architect played by Alec Baldwin who revisits his past by meeting up with his doppelgänger played by Jesse Eisenberg and relives his past as a spectator when he had an affair his girl friend's friend, an actress played by Ellen Paige.  Trust me when I say it makes sense.  Grade: A-.  Why?  Because it was funny and heartfelt and I loved how an afternoon can turn into a week of nostalgia.  Then there's the tale of a very common Italian man played by Roberto Benigni who becomes instantly famous for doing nothing at all.  Grade: A-  Why?  Because it's a brilliant commentary on celebrity written by someone who probably knows a thing or two about the subject.  Then there's Italian newly-weds, Antonia and Milly, from the country who visit the city to meet up with an Uncle for a possible job.  Yet they get separated when Milly gets lost in the city trying to get her hair done and Antonia is forced to have a prostitute played by Penelope Cruz play his wife for his family.  Grade: B+  Why?  It's a good story and I love how it turns out but a bit dishonest about love and sex.  Still it's an amusing fable.  And lastly the main storyline, the one with Woody Allen, deals with American parents come to Rome to meet their daughter's fiancée and his Italian parents.  The once American Opera director overhears his soon-to-be son-in-law's mortician father singing in the shower while cleaning up for a meal.  So blown away by the man's talent he becomes obsessed with helping the reluctant man break into the Opera business.  Grade: A  Why?  Because it' silly and hilarious.  It's just what you'd hope for in a Woody Allen comedy.