Amazon.com essential video: Woody Allen's feature-film debut, Take the Money and Run, a mockumentary that combines sight gags, sketchlike scenes, and standup jokes at rat-a-tat speed, looks positively primitive compared to his mature work. Primitive, but awfully funny. Allen plays Virgil Starkwell, a music-loving nebbish who turns to a life of crime at an early age and, undaunted by his utter and complete failure to pull off a single successful robbery, continues his unbroken spree of bungled heists and prison breaks even after he marries and raises a family. Narrator Jackson Beck, whose stentorian voice of authority makes a perfect foil for Starkwell's absurd exploits, lobs one droll quip after another with deadpan seriousness. Though spotty, Allen tosses so many jokes into the mix that it hardly matters and when they hit they are often hilarious: the chain gang posing as cousins to their old-woman hostage ("We're very close," Virgil explains to a dim cop), arguing with a dotty movie director who is supposed to be their cover for a bank robbery, Virgil's escape attempt with a bar of soap. Allen spoofs decades of crime films, everything from I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang to Bonnie and Clyde, but you don't have to know the movies to enjoy this goofy, sometimes clumsy, but quite clever comedy. --Sean Axmaker
Awesome, funny, silly and the best I can't stop laughing whenever I remember this movie. Have seen it dubbed in Persian language too and it was even more hilarious. Though I was curious to see the actual English language version and it was even funnier. gosh, this guy is brilliant. Loved it.... I think Woody Allen is a neurotic comedian and this work of him is among the best comedies I have seen. Good job 5/5
You said "gub" again! Told in a documentary style complete with voiceover and "interviews," Take the Money and Run is a hilarious play-by-play of the life of a hardened criminal named Virgil Starkwell (Woody Allen). From the day he was born, he devoted his life to crime from the beginning when he knocked off bubblegum machines to his later years when he attempted several bank robberies. Unfortunately, although Virgil was inventive, he was hardly smooth and all of his attempts ended in failure with his glasses smashed on the sidewalk. One good thing happened to him, though; he met a pretty girl (Janet Margolin) and fell in love.
This hilarious film has lost none of its punch over the years. There are so many memorable scenes and great running gags. The humor is still fresh and interesting, but the style blends well with modern comedy. Although Allen has moved away from this style in his more modern films, his early work appeals to younger audiences. This was the first time he wrote, directed, and starred in a film, a trend that would continue for years afterward.
One of Woody Allen's best comedies This is a hilarious, slapstick gem. It has some of Allen's best lines, a few incredibly entertaining situations and is one of his funniest comedies. This is a very funny movie, strongly recommended.
Extremely Funny But Too Bad About the DVD! I wouldn't call myself a Woody Allen fan but I thought this film was simply hilarious and most of the jokes and gags hold up well even today and if you like off-beat humour ala "There's Something About Mary" or even "Saturday Night Live" you will find a lot to like about this film. The jokes come thick and fast and although not all of them score, the vast majority of them do making it a comedy that rewards repeated viewing.
The only problem is with the dvd which is not restored in any way and so the picture and sound quality really suffer in comparison with what's currently out there. There are no special features of note either. This film is certainly one of the funniest and most enjoyable that I've ever seen but my advice is to wait for the Blu-ray version that significantly restores the picture quality as well as adds good special features and has good audio options such as at a minimum a Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround option to do justice to your home theatre system.
Grit your teeth! If you absolutely love Woody Allen, you'll love this movie. Otherwise, it's terribly slow and awfully boring.
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