STUFF YOU GOTTA WATCH

BANANAS

(1971)
With Woody Allen, Louise Lasser, Carlos Montalban, Howard Cosell
Co-written and Directed by Woody Allen
Reviewed by JB

The best of Woody Allen's "early, funnier movies", BANANAS is Allen's DUCK SOUP. The story (nebbish Fielding Mellish accidentally gets involved in a banana republic revolution) acts merely as a Christmas tree for Allen to decorate with as many gags, sequences and one-liners as he can. As in most of his pre-LOVE AND DEATH films, there is little attempt to wax seriously about life, love and anxiety in BANANAS; Allen's only interest is in making his audience laugh. The most famous sequence has Allen ordering take-out food for 2000 revolutionaries, but there are many other classic moments, such as a hilarious courtroom scene in which Allen cross-examines himself into exhaustion, and dozens of memorable sight gags and verbal gems. Allen has made more mature, thought-provoking movies than BANANAS, but never a funnier one. ½ - JB

ADD ANOTHER QUOTE AND MAKE IT A GALLON

"We fell in love. Well, I fell in love - she just stood there."