I pity those who cling and clamor towards the more intellectual works of Woody Allen and neglect the few early slapstick comedies he started out making. Woody's second directorial effort, "Bananas" - just as much as "Take The Money And Run", "Play It Again, Sam", "Sleeper", and "Love & Death" - is ninety minutes of complete stupid, laugh-out loud comedy. There is not much of a plot and little in the way of character development or storytelling. The story is just a set-up for Woody to pour out his endless bundle of jokes. As consumer products tester Fielding Mellish, Woody falls in love with Nancy, a political activist looking to enroll him in an upcoming protest march. The two strike up a romance, but Nancy soon finds Fielding is not dedicated enough to his political beliefs and leaves him. Looking to impress her, Fielding leaves America for the fictional Latin country of San Marcos where he finds himself embroiled in a revolution and unintentionally becomes their leader (replete with a fake beard a-la Fidel Castro).
I've noticed other comments criticizing the [political naiveness] of the film and it is again a sad reminder of the touchy-feely, overly-sensitive times we are living in. The film isn't meant to stir your emotions or awake any political apathy you may hold, the movie just wants to make you laugh! It's easy for comedies that use sight gags to hold up over repeated viewings, but the verbal barbs in "Bananas" still crack me up over and over. Like all of Woody's pre-"Annie Hall" films, this movie is perfect for rainy days. Just stretch out on the couch, turn off your brain, and laugh away. So, you've got problems? Well this film won't solve them, but it's bound to make you forget them for an hour-and-a-half.
Maybe part of the joy of watching this film over and over is just to laugh at the familiar jokes I've seen one hundred times already. The near-climax where Woody cross-examines himself in a courtroom is hysterical, as well as a scene in San Marcos where Woody enters a local diner and orders lunch for 1,000 army troops in complete dead-pan manner. There is also Woody's fantastic reaction to hearing someone utter the word "castration". The one-liners never quit either, whether Woody is trying unsuccessfully to sweet-talk Nancy during lovemaking ("I can't speak French, how about Hebrew?") or when he tries to invite himself to a party where coworkers are going to watch porno films ("You need an usher?"). It's also worth noting that in his early days, Woody was one of the great physical comedians of his time. I savor Woody's early films so much - even if they don't carry the weight of his later work - simply because this slapdash kind of moviemaking has since become extinct in today's cinema. Like I said, this is a funny, insignificant, little film; great for a quick escape. "So long suckers!"
I've noticed other comments criticizing the [political naiveness] of the film and it is again a sad reminder of the touchy-feely, overly-sensitive times we are living in. The film isn't meant to stir your emotions or awake any political apathy you may hold, the movie just wants to make you laugh! It's easy for comedies that use sight gags to hold up over repeated viewings, but the verbal barbs in "Bananas" still crack me up over and over. Like all of Woody's pre-"Annie Hall" films, this movie is perfect for rainy days. Just stretch out on the couch, turn off your brain, and laugh away. So, you've got problems? Well this film won't solve them, but it's bound to make you forget them for an hour-and-a-half.
Maybe part of the joy of watching this film over and over is just to laugh at the familiar jokes I've seen one hundred times already. The near-climax where Woody cross-examines himself in a courtroom is hysterical, as well as a scene in San Marcos where Woody enters a local diner and orders lunch for 1,000 army troops in complete dead-pan manner. There is also Woody's fantastic reaction to hearing someone utter the word "castration". The one-liners never quit either, whether Woody is trying unsuccessfully to sweet-talk Nancy during lovemaking ("I can't speak French, how about Hebrew?") or when he tries to invite himself to a party where coworkers are going to watch porno films ("You need an usher?"). It's also worth noting that in his early days, Woody was one of the great physical comedians of his time. I savor Woody's early films so much - even if they don't carry the weight of his later work - simply because this slapdash kind of moviemaking has since become extinct in today's cinema. Like I said, this is a funny, insignificant, little film; great for a quick escape. "So long suckers!"