By Ron Gilbert
When I heard the song,” When you wish Upon a Star”, originally sung by Jiminy Cricket, who serves as the official conscience for Pinocchio in the classic Disney film, in the opening frames of this film ,Woody had me. That pulled in memories of my childhood and the hopes and dreams we wish for. Woody Allen is sort of a Jiminy Cricket as a director. He makes you laugh and cry and connects you in a very special way. You can find happiness in this crazy world if you believe in fairy tales. If you focus on that premise you will be whisked away in this film as I was.
Woody has now moved his filmmaking to Europe so we are now in merry olde London. He uses quotes from William Shakespeare and makes you feel that you are in a modern day version of one of Shakespeare’s plays. In this setting he uses lines from Macbeth which are “A tale of sound and fury signifying nothing” which is spoken at the beginning and ending of the film. If you interpret those words in a very optimistic way, you will love this film as I did. We have characters who are trying to find meaning in their lives which includes being successful and finding love but that may not work out for some. So watch Anthony Hopkins (Alfie) making midlife changes so that he can recapture his youthful wishes after he finds Lucy Punch (Charmaine) who will definitely make it happen. Lucy is everyman’s dream as a fantasy and does a terrific job at it. Gemma Jones (Helena) whom Alfie leaves takes a different journey and with the help of a psychic is looking for her soulmate. Gemma steals this film and when we met I saw her beautiful blue eyes reflected by her blue jumper, I told her that it she had worn these colors she would have found more suitors. Then we have Naomi Watts (Sally) who is their daughter and is unhappy in her marriage and develops a crush on her boss Antonio Banderas (Greg). Her hubby Josh Brolin (Roy) is a writer waiting for his next breakthrough novel to be published becomes enchanted with his lovely neighbor (Freida Pinto (Dia) when he sees her through his rear window.
So join Woody and all his characters in this jolly romp and just keep in mind the words of Jiminy Cricket and wish upon a star.

http://www.sonyclassics.com/youwillmeetatalldarkstranger/