Sid Waterman: "We need to put our heads together."
Sandra Pransky: "If you put our heads together you'll hear a hollow noise."

I don't mean to steal my main man Laremy Legel's thunder with the quoting gig, but I thought it was appropriate, all things considered. See, I'm usually a poor judge when it comes to Woody Allen movies. Even in his lesser efforts -- which his latest film, Scoop, certainly is -- I tend to find his dialogue clever enough to enjoy his failures. There's about ten or so one-liners that had me laughing out loud (or at least chuckling) when I was watching it even if I thought much of the film was lazy and predictable.

Sandra Pransky: "What's wrong with you? What are you putting in your metamucil?"

That is probably my favorite line in the movie, which brings me to Scar-Jo. Scarlett Johansson (as Sandra Pransky) seems so out of place in this movie that I initially thought she was acting that she was acting in her first few scenes. I soon realized, no, she is just playing her version of Woody Allen. Eventually the performance kind of grew on me because she delivers Allen's zingers with the right amount of relish. The thing is, when I think of all the many Woody Allen impersonations, I think of that last shot in Raiders of the Lost Ark with all those crates lost amongst each other. I'm just saying.

Sid Waterman: "I don't need to work out. My anxiety acts as aerobics."

I have to say, Woody Allen may look terrible (has he ever looked good?), but he still has the comedic chops. He has great delivery. I just wish he played a more meaty role that he was actually invested in instead of these second-banana types.

Sid Waterman: "She probably left her sweater at some other guy's house. She has a problem with promiscuity."

This line is funnier in context, and I'm going to have to assume the same goes for Jeffrey Lyons' quote on the back of the DVD, which states, "Scoop is heading for the Best Picture of the Year List." Okay, Jeff. Wonder what he's putting in his metamucil.

Sid Waterman: "I was born of the Hebrew persuasion, but I converted to narcissism."

Scoop is a lighthearted, minor effort, and that's fine. It's just disappointing after Allen showed real signs of life with Match Point. It's okay, Woody, you'll get it next time. We hope.

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