I couldn't assign this more than 3* -- 2 for Allen, 1 for Falk. I was in NYC on business during this work's original stage run, with Sam Levene in the Woody Allen part, and Jack Albertson in Falk's.
I'm not prejudiced against New Yorkers, I just think they're about one-third to a half less-sophisticated and -trendy than they do.
Everyone was praising the original of this work as if it were a treasure, and I'd have graded to original at a B+. The subsequent Burns/Matthau flick, 20 years prior to this one, could be about B-, with a bit of a stretch.
I loved Columbo, and have enjoyed Peter Falk's work with his buddies, John Cassavetes and Ben Gazzara -- but here, his voice and accent throughout sounded at times like Arte Johnson when he did his nerdy German soldier character on "Laugh In," and the rest of the time like Adam Sandler doing his Opera Man, the nerd from "The Waterboy," and other inane types he has done with this same type silly nasal, whiny accent.
I've thought Bruce Jenner, in his Village People opus, "Can't Stop the Music, " may have been one of the worst performances ever recorded on film -- but then Bruce's talent was running, jumping, throwing the discus, putting the shot, etc., not acting.
Peter Falk, with a very strong resumé in both humorous and serious roles, may have been even worse here. It's a stretch to mark this offering even a D-.
I'm not prejudiced against New Yorkers, I just think they're about one-third to a half less-sophisticated and -trendy than they do.
Everyone was praising the original of this work as if it were a treasure, and I'd have graded to original at a B+. The subsequent Burns/Matthau flick, 20 years prior to this one, could be about B-, with a bit of a stretch.
I loved Columbo, and have enjoyed Peter Falk's work with his buddies, John Cassavetes and Ben Gazzara -- but here, his voice and accent throughout sounded at times like Arte Johnson when he did his nerdy German soldier character on "Laugh In," and the rest of the time like Adam Sandler doing his Opera Man, the nerd from "The Waterboy," and other inane types he has done with this same type silly nasal, whiny accent.
I've thought Bruce Jenner, in his Village People opus, "Can't Stop the Music, " may have been one of the worst performances ever recorded on film -- but then Bruce's talent was running, jumping, throwing the discus, putting the shot, etc., not acting.
Peter Falk, with a very strong resumé in both humorous and serious roles, may have been even worse here. It's a stretch to mark this offering even a D-.