Although he wrote and directed this movie, Woody Allen doesn't appear on screen in Radio Days. He only narrates this one, recalling his life growing up in the olden days when people listened to entertaining shows on the radio. A thirteen-year-old Seth Green plays young Woody, and Julie Kavner and Michael Tucker play his bickering parents.
There are several side plots involving his extended family and neighbors, and while Woody tries to connect everything to the glory days of radio, sometimes it feels like he's reaching too far. Mia Farrow plays a low-class cigarette girl who witnesses a random murder in a nightclub. The murderer's henchman, Danny Aiello, is ordered to kill the witness, but instead he falls in love with her. That part of the story is my favorite, but it isn't so adorable to make this one of my favorite Woody Allen movies. The rest of the stories and characters feel like they're only in place for cynical one-liners or little gags.
As in most Woody Allen movies, there's a large cast, so be on the lookout for Dianne Wiest, Jeff Daniels, William H. Macy, Wallace Shawn, Larry David, Kenneth Mars, Mercedes Ruehl, Tony Roberts, and Diane Keaton. This one wasn't my favorite, but if you're partial to the radio or like lengthy reminisces, you can give it a try and see if you like it.
There are several side plots involving his extended family and neighbors, and while Woody tries to connect everything to the glory days of radio, sometimes it feels like he's reaching too far. Mia Farrow plays a low-class cigarette girl who witnesses a random murder in a nightclub. The murderer's henchman, Danny Aiello, is ordered to kill the witness, but instead he falls in love with her. That part of the story is my favorite, but it isn't so adorable to make this one of my favorite Woody Allen movies. The rest of the stories and characters feel like they're only in place for cynical one-liners or little gags.
As in most Woody Allen movies, there's a large cast, so be on the lookout for Dianne Wiest, Jeff Daniels, William H. Macy, Wallace Shawn, Larry David, Kenneth Mars, Mercedes Ruehl, Tony Roberts, and Diane Keaton. This one wasn't my favorite, but if you're partial to the radio or like lengthy reminisces, you can give it a try and see if you like it.