It isn't a great film, but I enjoyed spending time watching Wallace Shawn reciting Woody Allen's genius words about the meaning of life, the pretentiousness of art and the adrenaline of new love. Allen rarely disappoints... and this late-life crisis hits most of the classic notes.

The latest comedy from writer-director Woody Allen is an odd one from the get-go: Wallace Shawn stands in for the leading man (in what would normally be the typical Allen role) of an essay writer/film history teacher/would-be novelist who must accompany his press agent wife to Spain for the San Sebastian Festival. There, she becomes smitten with a "pretentious film director" from France while disparaging her husband's neuroses, while he harbors chest pains and harks back to his past disappointments by dreaming himself into various scenarios which emulate Welles, Fellini, Truffaut, et al. Despite his age (he was 75 or 76 when this film was shot),Shawn is more than capable at carrying a comedy--his instantly identifiable voice is a pleasure to listen to. However, this type of comedy--one centering on the relationship of a married couple (one wherein the husband is busy pondering the Meaning of Life and the wife is played by glamorous Gina Gershon)--is not a proper fit for Shawn. The actor's ultra-casual clothes and balding head are probably meant to be endearing, but when his character expresses the same old Woody Allen hang-ups (such as the eternal "Why are we here?"),one can't help questioning this man's agenda...has he been asking "Why are we here?" all this time? The lack of really sharp one-liners makes itself felt, but the supporting cast is fine, the production is handsome, and Allen keeps a smooth, jaunty pace. ** from ****

Most likely to be Woody's last battle as a Director, Rifkin's Festival is Woody's 50th+ movie he has both written and directed. A legendary filmmaker equal to the likes of Ingmar Bergman, Rifkin's Festival is not only a love letter to Woody's career in cinema, but it is also a statement of appreciation for Ingmar Bergman himself. Many scenes from the movie are either a parody or pay homage to Bergman's movies. At the end of Deconstructing Harry, Woody Allen mentions a new character named Rifkin as the movie ends. Seeing this more clearly as a fan of Woody Allen, I see more an more connections to all his movies as a whole collective. This makes Rifkin's Festival the perfect movie to end Woody Allen's career as America's greatest story teller and filmmaker of humor and relationships. Wallace Shawn finally gets the starring lead in a Woody Allen film after being the supporting character multiple times. It is hard not to see his self portrayal of himself in My Dinner with Andre when he walks alone in the streets of San Sebastián. He is mirroring his isolated walk of quiet desperation equal to his misery to My Dinner with Andre. Rifkin's Festival is also a departure from the typical Woody Allen movie where an older man flaunts over a younger, muse type figure. Here, the older woman is seduced by a younger man. However, the central character's struggle with regret, writing a novel and death are still center stage. What else would you want or expect from a Woody Allen movie? In the end, it's a great movie for Woody Allen fans.