Plot: What’s it about?
CW Briggs (Woody Allen) claims to be the finest insurance investigator in New York and while that might not be true, he does make good efforts. His record is excellent and while he is old school in his lines of thought, he can still uncover the truth like few others. But his connections to his earlier methods has started to cause him some problems, as his company wants his office brought up to date, no matter what. In order to make sure that happens, the company has sent in an efficiency expert to ensure the changes are executed, which means conflict is certain. The agent sent in is Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt), a beautiful woman with a sharp mind and perhaps even a sharper mouth. She and Briggs clash from the start, but when they both wind up on stage during the performance of a hypnotist, things take on a new light. As the two of them become involved in an outrageous plot to steal jewels, make sure they’re insured, and then look after the claims, wackiness and even romance follow…
This is one of those movies I really wanted to like, but even with a very positive mindset, I was disappointed with The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. I do think the film has some humorous moments and the premise had a lot of promise, but Woody Allen simply couldn’t make it all work, which is a shame. The chemistry between Allen and Helen Hunt is lackluster at best, which means a lot of the dialogue comes off as flat and since their relationship is focused on, the entire movie suffers as a result. I wouldn’t call this a total loss, but it is very hit and miss, with most of the material falling into the latter area. I did enjoy some of the smaller roles, but it wasn’t enough to balance out the picture, to be sure. In the end, this movie is a let down in most respects and with an overpriced, underfeatured disc from Dreamworks, a rental seems like the smartest choice.
As much I have enjoyed his performances over the years, I think the time has come for Woody Allen to change lanes as an actor. His writing & direction remains sharp, but he is simply no longer able to be a romantic lead, at least not the way he casts his pictures. Allen has always paired himself with beautiful women, but now he is a little too old to rub elbows with young starlets, even those Helen Hunt’s age. It comes off as creepy, to be honest and while we all know about his personal life, that shouldn’t be an issue here. He needs to hand over the lead parts to younger workers, but stay on as writer & director, as he still shines there. Other films directed by Allen include Annie Hall, Small Time Crooks, Bananas, Love & Death, and Interiors. The cast also includes Helen Hunt (Twister, What Women Want), Elizabeth Berkley (Showgirls, Any Given Sunday), and Wallace Shawn (My Dinner With Andre, The Princess Bride).
Video: How does it look?
The Curse of the Jade Scorpion is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is a solid visual effort on all fronts and while the image sometimes looks overly soft, this is an intentional touch. As this is supposed to be in the 1940s, the visuals have been redone to look a little washed out at times, so no need for concern there. The colors come through in fine form, with bright hues and of course, natural flesh tones. I saw no errors with the contrast either, as black levels looked right on and never murky in the least, not even for a second. I did some small flaws here, but on the whole, this is a more than solid visual presentation.
Audio: How does it sound?
As per Allen’s wishes, the audio is presented via a mono track and for what it is, the track is quite effective. I know a lot of people complain about Allen’s use of mono, but he is an artist and as such, his wishes & intent should be what matters. The jazz score comes through with a clean, natural sound, while dialogue is sharp and easy to understand too, no complaints to make here, if you ask me. This disc also includes language options in French and Spanish, as well as English subtitles, should you need those.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some production notes, talent files, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
