Anything Else (2003)

40% of critics liked it
(131 reviews)
44% of users liked it
(21,255 ratings)

A young artist struggling with his career and his muse is getting more than a little aggravation from Cupid in this romantic comedy written and directed by Woody Allen. Jerry Falk (Jason Biggs) is a promising 21-year-old comedy writer living in New York City. While Jerry has talent, he's having a… More A young artist struggling with his career and his muse is getting more than a little aggravation from Cupid in this romantic comedy written and directed by Woody Allen. Jerry Falk (Jason Biggs) is a promising 21-year-old comedy writer living in New York City. While Jerry has talent, he's having a hard time getting his career off the ground, which might have something to do with the fact his agent Harvey (Danny DeVito) is a well-meaning, but ineffectual, blowhard, and his mentor David Dobel (Allen) is an increasingly paranoid eccentric whose twin careers as a teacher and standup comic are both floundering. Poised at the top of Jerry's mountain of anxieties is his relationship with his girlfriend Amanda (Christina Ricci); from the first moment he saw her, Jerry has been in love with her, but Amanda's multiple neuroses, fear of commitment, and frustrating intimacy issues make her all but impossible to be around. Jerry is approaching his breaking point when the small flat he shares with Amanda becomes home to a third roommate -- Amanda's mother Paula (Stockard Channing), who has decided to come to New York to chase her dream of becoming a cabaret singer. Anything Else also features supporting performances from Jimmy Fallon, William Hill, and jazz vocalist Diana Krall. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Woody Allen
Written By: Woody Allen
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 19, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Dec 23, 2003
Studio: DreamWorks SKG

Critic Reviews

Rex Reed, New York Observer
None of this adds up to much of a movie; it's more like a filmed hodgepodge of not-fully- thought-out ideas and one-liners and small shards of jaundiced polemic.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Curiously, Jason Biggs and Christina Ricci come out better than I imagined after being compelled to play out the movie's sadomasochistic tag line.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
I didn't laugh once.
Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Who knows what sense an American Pie-digging, Woodman-ignorant undergrad might make of the canned rhythms, the trilobite-era one-liners, the awkward declarative dialogue, the Catskills-resort frames of reference, the freshman philosophy.
Jean Oppenheimer, Hollywood Reporter
There is nothing to set this work apart from any number of mediocre Allen films.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
There's a lot of truth in the screenplay, and, combined with Ricci's top-notch, can't-take-your- eyes-off-her-when- she's-on-screen performance, this gives the movie a strong spine.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Anything Else" represents low ebb for the comic filmmaker famous for transmuting the work of Ingmar Bergman into New York centric comedies full of neurosis based humor.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
Woody Allen tries to extend the shelf-life of his screen persona by hiring a younger, more marketable actor
Enrique Buchichio, Uruguay Total
(...) Valía la pena seguir esperando la siguiente película de Allen; después de Anything Else no estoy tan seguro de ello.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Typical of Woody Allen movies, this is a minimalist DVD.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The trouble is, Biggs is not nearly as good at this kind of role as Allen. For that matter, Allen is not very convincing as a gun-toting survivalist, either.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
The script is quite entertaining as it plays with the idea of writing and artistic creation. But the plot itself is mildly annoying and seriously dull.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Seria ótimo se Allen passasse a dedicar mais tempo ao desenvolvimento de suas idéias. É melhor ver um bom filme a cada dois ou três anos do que sofrer uma decepção todo ano.
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal
A return to form for Woody Allen.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jason S

This wasn't very good. The story was bleah and the actors didn't seem to put out performances at all. I didn't care what happened to any of these people halfway through.
Alice S

I dislike movies about seasoned pros imparting advice to wide-eyed proteges. In terms of Woody's oeuvre, there was too much didacticism and not enough heart...
Jennifer X

it was kind of eerie to see american pie jason biggs emulate woody allen so accurately. christina ricci was uneven but she's completely gorgeous and i can understand why jason biggs is obsessed with her. evokes classic woody allen humor and falters at times but generally… More
it was kind of eerie to see american pie jason biggs emulate woody allen so accurately. christina ricci was uneven but she's completely gorgeous and i can understand why jason biggs is obsessed with her. evokes classic woody allen humor and falters at times but generally it's all good fun. i wouldn't consider it one of the better woody allen films but this is a movie where woody is thoroughly comfortable with his style and i think, in the later years, creates some variations. i want to hurt people who are all annie hall BLAH BLAH this and that. allen's not going to make another annie hall, but his style has always be the same. get over yourselves! all allen films are inherently the same and different.
James A

For the first time in my life I had to just stop watching a movie due to boredom and shotty diologue.
Yinalí R

I seriously thought this was going to be about some romantic comedy we naturally see. I was SO wrong, in so many levels. This movie is about little psychos who can drain someone, a "life sucker" if you will. Very well done, some plot holes but it's good in general.… More
I seriously thought this was going to be about some romantic comedy we naturally see. I was SO wrong, in so many levels. This movie is about little psychos who can drain someone, a "life sucker" if you will. Very well done, some plot holes but it's good in general. Woody Allen (always) makes it worth a watch.
Mike T

One of the best films of 2003. The way Woody Allen's current work is so frequently shunned by audiences and film critics is shameful. He is a relevant, extremely skilled filmmaker, and this piece of work fits nicely into his brilliant career. It's a beautifully photographed… More
One of the best films of 2003. The way Woody Allen's current work is so frequently shunned by audiences and film critics is shameful. He is a relevant, extremely skilled filmmaker, and this piece of work fits nicely into his brilliant career. It's a beautifully photographed piece - Allen's only movie to be filmed using an anamorphic ratio aside from Manhattan. Jason Biggs is charming in the lead, and he shares fantastic screen chemistry with Woody Allen. Christina Ricci is top-notch as a confused, neurotic character, and all the supporting roles are filled nicely as well. Everything I want from a romantic comedy, and so much more. Anything Else is great.
Jojo S

I thought this film is way underrated. You'll have to be a "reader" or "intelligent" to understand fully what Allen achieved in Anything Else. It was hilarious and classic. Definitely worth watching twice for the memorable sayings. If you are into boring,… More
I thought this film is way underrated. You'll have to be a "reader" or "intelligent" to understand fully what Allen achieved in Anything Else. It was hilarious and classic. Definitely worth watching twice for the memorable sayings. If you are into boring, senseless bloodbath action, this is not for you.
Miriam K

This movie sucked! I LIKE Christina Ricci but this was one of Woody Allen's worst!
Sunil J

Has moments but not very good.