With the possible exception of What's Up, Tiger Lily (1966), the schlocky Japanese spy movie to which he attached his own, sidesplitting English soundtrack, no Woody Allen movie has ever been more or less serious than another of his works. He's always been serious. It's the audiences who have been frivolous. In Zelig he reassures us that he can still be funny and moving without making the sort of insistent filmic references in which he delights but which can be infuriating to others. Zelig is a nearly perfect - and perfectly original - Woody Allen comedy.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author argues Allen has always been serious, but audiences perceive him as frivolous, noting Zelig balances humor and depth.
- In plain terms
- Allen is serious about his work, even if audiences see it as just comedy.
- What can you take from it?
- Serious intent can coexist with humor in great art.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is comedy inherently less serious?
- How do you judge an artist's intent?
Another view
Audience perception of frivolity might actually be a valid reaction to tone.
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