The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)
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45% of critics liked it
(124 reviews) -
51% of users liked it
(16,106 ratings)
Writer and director Woody Allen returns to the Manhattan of the past with this romantic comedy set in 1940, the era of fedora hats and gumshoe detectives. Allen stars as C.W. Briggs, an insurance investigator whose razor-sharp instincts have just led to the successful conclusion of another case, the… More Writer and director Woody Allen returns to the Manhattan of the past with this romantic comedy set in 1940, the era of fedora hats and gumshoe detectives. Allen stars as C.W. Briggs, an insurance investigator whose razor-sharp instincts have just led to the successful conclusion of another case, the recovery of a stolen Picasso. While he's a valued employee, Briggs is under fire from efficiency expert Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt) for his antiquated attitudes and refusal to accept modern crime-solving techniques such as fingerprinting. C.W. claims he puts himself directly into the criminal mind, a skill that will do him no good when he and Betty Ann are hypnotized at a Rainbow Room gathering one night by the magician Volton (David Ogden Stiers). As a parlor trick to entertain their co-workers, Volton makes C.W. and Betty Ann believe they're a couple that's deeply in love. But the performer secretly keeps up the ruse after the party's over, calling C.W. to whisper a magic code word and ordering the detective to rob wealthy homes with security systems that C.W. himself has designed. With no memory of his thieving activities, a frustrated C.W. can't solve the high-profile jewel burglaries, while he and Betty Ann struggle with their odd new attraction for each other, made more complicated by the fact that Betty Ann is romantically involved with their boss (Dan Aykroyd). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Woody Allen
- Written By
- Woody Allen
- Genres
- Drama, Art House & International, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Aug 24, 2001 Limited
- Studio
- Dreamworks
Critic Reviews
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Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
The movie has an odd feeling, both lush and listless. It's enough to make us believe Allen's comic batteries need recharging.
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Peter Rainer, New York Magazine
The romance between C.W. and Betty Ann doesn't have much ardor, repressed or otherwise.
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Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
Mid-level, pretty-but-not- hugely-funny Allen film.
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David Edelstein, Slate
It's evidently important to Allen to work, work, work, but he's starting to make his movies by rote instead of passion.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
[Allen's] let his guard down and has allowed himself and his audience to relax -- something that doesn't often happen when the specters of class and European art hover over his pictures.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Woody Allen
as CW Briggs
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Dan Aykroyd
as Chris Magruder
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Helen Hunt
as Betty Ann Fitzgerald
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Elizabeth Berkley
as Jill
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John Schuck
as Mize
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Kaili Vernoff
as Rosie
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Brian Markinson
as Al
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Wallace Shawn
as George Bond
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Maurice Sonnenberg
as Office Worker
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Charlize Theron
as Laura Kensington
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John Doumanian
as Office Worker
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Peter Gerety
as Ned
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Kevin Cahoon
as Lunch Delivery Man
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Philip Levy
as Rocky's Waiter
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Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Howard Alden
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Ted Sommer
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Randy Sandke
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Peter Ecklund
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Joel Helleny
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Chuck Wilson
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Ray Beckenstein
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Lawrence Feldman
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Ken Peplowski
as Rainbow Room All Star
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Dick Hyman
as Band Leader
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Carole Bayeux
as Voltan's Assistant
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Kenneth Edelson
as Voltan's Participants
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Brian McConnachie
as Voltan's Participants
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Judy Gold
as Voltan's Participants
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Herb Lovelle
as Night Guard
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Carmen
as Rose Kensington
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Patrick Horgan
as Kensington Guest
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Howard Erskine
as Kensington Guest
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Ira Wheeler
as Kensington Guest
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Tina Sloan
as Kensington Guest
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Ramsey Faragallah
as Fingerprint Detective
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Bob Dorian
as Mike
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Arthur J. Nascarella
as Tom
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Trude Klein
as Kensington Maid
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Irwin Corey
as Charlie
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Michael Mulheren
as Herb Coopersmith
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Peter Linari
as Joe Coopersmith
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Ray Garvey
as Police Station Cop
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Bruce Brown
as Radio Announcer
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Dan Moran
as Street Contact
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David Ogden Stiers
as Voltan
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John Tormey
as Sam
- Mark Rydell

