To Rome with Love (2012)

To Rome With Love, 2012. Film. Directed Woody ALLEN.
USA: Sony Pictures Classics

To Rome with Love is a charming rom-com that tells four stories. The stories are intercut but are in no way linked other than being set in Rome; each story being just as interesting and likable as the next. This film is not overly exciting or surprising but it makes you smile and gives you a warm feeling of satisfaction that director Woody Allen seems to create effortlessly.

When it comes to the characters we never find out much about the characters so it’s almost like starting to watch a sitcom but halfway through the series, but I believe that most of the appeal comes from the casting. The film is full of wonderful actors and actresses that make it easy to just sit back and enjoy the film without worrying too much about the depth of it.

My favourite story involves Woody Allen himself playing Jerry, a “retiring” opera director who is visiting Rome with his wife (Judy Davis) to meet their daughter (Alison Pill) and her fiancé Michelangelo (Flavio Parenti). Allen’s self-doubting character brings a lot of humour to the film as he makes a firm point of mispronouncing Michelangelo’s name and when he tries to persuade his future in-law to give up his career as an undertaker and instead become a professional opera singer after hearing him sing in the shower. The cast also includes a favourite actor of mine: Jesse Eisenberg as Jack, a budding architect who lives in Rome with his girlfriend Sally (Greta Gerwig). His role in this film is not unlike the characters he plays in any other film however it is undoubtedly another entertaining performance as we watch his character struggle not to fall for Sally’s best friend Monica and another favourite of mine (Ellen Page). Alec Baldwin co-stars in this story in a very ambiguous way that I found very confusing at first but it seems his character is able to simply materialise and give advice to Jack about his careless behaviour. Another episode involves newlyweds Antonio and Milly played by Alessandro Tiberian and Alessandra Mastronardi. The two are visiting Rome so that she can meet his family however one day they become separated. Milly crosses paths with her favourite movie star and innocent Antonio ends up the unwilling recipient of a hooker (Penelope Cruz) who, due to a series of unfortunate events, he frantically has to pass of as his wife. While these stories are all a lot of fun, the fourth story is one that I might never fully appreciate because I feel the humour of the story fades quickly. It deals with the idea that some people are famous for being famous. Roberto Benigni’s character falls victim to overnight fame and is followed everywhere by paparazzi until he can find no escape.  It is a clever and very honest notion that is balanced out by the absurd and magical events that happen throughout the other episodes however I will admit, after a while I got very tired of it.

I have seen very few Woody Allen films so maybe that’s why my view is slightly different to those reflected in other reviews I have read? To Rome with Love is not as magical as Midnight in Paris but the cast are still excellent and I find this film very relaxing and pleasantly entertaining to watch. If you’ve got some time and don’t mind a few subtitles every now and again I would really recommend giving it a watch. It can be a lot of fun just don’t try and take it too seriously.

Recommend to: Fans of the cast

                            Anyone looking for a relaxing film that doesn’t take itself too seriously