You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger finds writer/director Woody Allen covering very familiar ground in this comedy about upper middle class Londoners dealing with the problems they create due to the choices they make and the whims they follow.
Buy You Will Meet a Tall Dark StrangerRefusing to grow old gracefully, Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) leaves his wife Helena (Gemma Jones) and unaware of the cliché he is fulfilling buys a sports car and marries Charmaine (Lucy Punch), a gorgeous blonde who is younger than his daughter Sally (Naomi Watts). Helena is very distraught over Alfie’s leaving. She begins to see Cristal (Pauline Collins), a fortune-teller, and this helps her cope, as does a bit of alcohol. Helena gains even more comfort when Cristal informs her she will meet a new love.
As if dealing with her parents wasn’t enough, Sally has her own problems as well. There’s tension at home with her husband Roy (Josh Brolin) who can’t hold a job and doesn’t feel they’re ready to have the baby Sally wants. Helena helps supports them, allowing Sally to take a job at an art gallery where she develops a crush on the owner Greg (Antonio Banderas).
Roy is a struggling author who has failed to recapture the magic of his first book. He sits at home, waiting to hear back on his latest submission to the publisher and hoping for some inspiration to help his writing. He thinks he may have found a muse when he makes the acquaintance of his attractive and engaged-to-be-married neighbor Dia (Freida Pinto). They go out on lunch dates together and she doesn’t stop Roy’s advances.
The story takes some interesting, amusing turns as the different plotlines play out. I was most surprised by the character that ended up the best off at the conclusion, but in a good way because it meant the theme of this film contrasted with some of Allen’s other work, so it wasn’t predictable. There’s a good deal of humor, especially with Roy and Alfie. Roy gets himself into a hysterical predicament regarding his writing career. Alfie’s funny lines made me realize I couldn’t remember seeing Hopkins in a comedy before, which is a shame because he’s very good here.
You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger is a pleasant film for fans of Allen’s work. It won’t be mentioned alongside the classics of his oeuvre, but those looking for something light and casual, it should fit the bill.
