Enemies of Laughter

Color, NR (mature themes), 91 min., DVD $19.95, VHS $59.95

DVD: no extras

Street: Aug. 31, Prebook: July 27

First Run: L, Aug. 2003, <$1 mil.

Cast: David Paymer (Alex and Emma), Judge Reinhold (Clifford's Really Big Movie), Rosalind Chao (Freaky Friday), Peter Falk (Undisputed), Bea Arthur (TV's Golden Girls)

VANGUARD

Story Line: While playwright-turned-sitcom writer Paul Halpern (Paymer) searches in vain for his soulmate, his friend Sam (Reinhold) journeys around L.A. making a documentary about Paul's life. The interview subjects all testify to Paul's schlemiel-like personality, but theater director Carla (Chao) remains steadfast in her desire to mount a production of a play of his that he believes is "cursed."

Bottom Line: If there was ever a movie that could make one reappraise the last decade and a half of uneven Woody Allen comedies, it's Enemies of Laughter. As written by former sitcom scripter Glen Merzer and directed by the former "Joey" Travolta, the movie is Woody lite: a self-loathing character whose friends are, at best, amused by him, finally meets the right girl (with the documentary frame-device calling to mind Woody's directorial debut, Take the Money and Run). The problem is that, unlike better made Woody-esque movies like When Harry Met Sally..., Enemies doesn't evoke any sympathy for its lead character's plight. How can we feel sorry for a guy who utters lead-balloon one-liners like, "My last date, I actually got stood up at the Museum of Tolerance--I couldn't decide which emotion was appropriate." The film's sole strong point is its cast: Paul's girlfriends and childhood pals are played by a host of familiar faces, including Kathy Griffin, Daphne Zuniga and Marilu Henner. Singlehandedly stealing the proceedings are Paul's parents, played by the very funny Falk and Arthur who, for their short time onscreen, supply the laughter sorely missing from the rest of the picture. --Ed Grant

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