Quick paced comic murder mystery

I've got to be honest with you. I only rented this movie because Hugh Jackman was in it. But on the whole, I think my predetermination was all wrong. It was a nice summery murder mystery-cum love story that somehow is just the right recipe for these rather dull and dismal days.

It's nothing heavy, nothing deep – and not anywhere as good as any number of real Allen masterpieces – but it's also completely enjoyable as a light, bantering comedy. There's something kind of simple and sweet about it. "Cute" was the word that was running in my mind. Compared to just about everything Hollywood is producing, Allen's stuff has a tendency to charm. Even the fluffy stuff.

Scoop is quick-paced murder mystery. A young female journalism student is unwittingly maneuvered by forces beyond her control into trying to catch a serial killer on the loose. Plenty of hiccups ensue as she partners up with a traveling illusionist and falls in love with a frisky and charming young nobleman. Sid Waterman, stage moniker The Great Splendini, who counters some snobs' probing with, "I used to be of the Hebrew persuasion, but as I got older, I converted to narcissism." Following a revelation in the midst of Splendini's standard dematerializing act, with Scarlett Johansson (as Sondra Pransky), the mismatched pair get drawn into a dead ace English journalist's post-mortem attempt to score one last top news story. On the edge of the Styx, Joe Strombel (Ian McShane) has just met the shade of one Lord Lyman's son's secretary, who says she was poisoned, and she's told him the charming aristocratic bounder son Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman) was the Tarot Card murderer, a London serial killer. Sondra and Sid immediately become a pair of amateur sleuths. With Sid's deadpan wit and Sondra's bumptious beauty they cut a quick swath through to the cream of the London aristocracy.

Scarlett has been morphed surprisingly into a klutzy, bespectacled but still pretty coed. Sid and Sondra have no flirtation, which is a great relief. They simply team up, more or less politely, to carry out Strombel's wishes by befriending Lyman and watching him for clues to his guilt. With only minimal protests, Sid consents to appear as Sondra's dad. Sondra, who has captivated Peter by pretending to drown in his club pool, re-christens herself Jade Spence. Mr. Spence, i.e., Woody, keeps breaking cover by doing card tricks, but he amuses dowagers with these and beats their husbands at poker, spewing non-stop one-liners and all the while maintaining, apparently with success, that he's in oil and precious metals, just as "Jade" has told him to say.

Scoop isn't a bad addition to the Woody Allen filmography. It isn't his best work but it is a very enjoyable and light-hearted romp. I'd say it fits quite comfortably into being an average Woody Allen film, right in the middle of the pack. If you're a Woody Allen fan you'll probably enjoy yourself. If you're indifferent to his work then Scoop might be enough to get you interested in seeing more.

I don't think that anyone who dislikes his style of film-making and acting are going to change their mind. Woody plays the same kind of neurotic character we've grown so accustomed to, although it borders dangerously close to forced and over the top in this film. While potentially aggravating for some who might find themselves wishing he'd hurry up and just spit out the words, Woody Allen fans know what to expect.

The performances were very good all around and I felt that Ian McShane who played the "dead" journalist was just right. Maybe a little more of him could've added to this one. Hugh Jackman (and am not being biased) is great as the charming nobleman and I think Woody Allen has found a new regular star to work with in Scarlett Johansson.

This is (I believe) there second pairing since Match Point and she's just magic with the material that Woody gives her. (I saw a number of reviews though that claimed that the movie could've done better with someone else – but I beg to differ). I'm glad I saw the movie and definitely recommend it.

More sophisticated comedy than movies like Scary Movie 4 so if your brand of comedy is the latter rather than the former, Scoop probably isn't for you. If, on the other hand, you like a touch of class, sophistication and fun, Scoop is for you. Probably not the Woody Allen film I'd introduce to a newcomer but all others should give it a try.

Words of Wisdom – If you put our heads together, you'll hear a hollow noise.
Watch it if you liked – The Importance of being Ernest
Movie Hall of Fame – No
Tagline –
The perfect man.
The perfect story.
The perfect murder.