Customer Reviews

Don't Drink the Water [VHS]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Let me preface this review by saying that I have NEVER been a Woody Allen fan. I had seen some of his earlier movies and just never got into them. However, I got hold of a copy of "Manhattan Murder Mystery" with Diane Keaton, Alan Alda, Angelica Huston and, of course, Woody. I have just about worn it out because I've watched it over and over. I went to the video store and browsed through their Woody Allen titles and saw "Don't Drink the Water". I decided to give it a try since I like Dom Deloise, Julie Kavner and Michael J. Fox. Let me tell you, there are very few movies I see that make me truly laugh out loud - this one did. The entire premise of the movie is so funny. Woody takes his wife and daughter on a vacation to Russia (who goes to Russia for a vacation!?!), does the usual tourist routine, and ends up being chased by KGB agents because they think Woody and family are spies! Woody was taking pictures of the sunset and he must have photographed something that would make the agents think he was spying. Anyway, Woody and family take off running and go to the American Embassy in Russia to seek asylum. And believe me, the place is an asylum. Michael J. is the son of the Ambassador. The Ambassador has to return to Washington, D.C. and reluctantly leaves the embassy in Michael J.'s hands (Michael has been pretty much a screw-up all of his life) so his father doesn't trust him. As soon as Woody and family reach the embassy the fun begins. There is an Italian priest, played by Dom Deloise, who had to seek asylum at the embassy and has been there for years. He's really into magic tricks and thinks he's a real pro. The embassy chef cooks all kinds of exotic foods that drive Woody nuts (Woody is a New Jersey caterer) and Woody and the chef have an ongoing battle. The daughter falls for Michael J., the mother, Julie Kavner, ends up taking over the housekeeping at the embassy, a visiting Middle Eastern dignitary arrives and...just watch this movie! There is so much I can't begin to tell it all but trust me if you like just good old fashioned comedy you'll enjoy this. I highly recommend it - that's why I came to Amazon to find a copy because you can't find it at local video stores to buy. Every time I watch it I see something that sets me off laughing. If this movie does not make you laugh you have a serious problem with your funnybone!!

Don't Drink the Water is hysterical! I am a huge Woody Allen Fan and have seen nearly all of his movies. There are some movies by Woody that even I'm not that fond of BUT.....this is not one of them. This movie is entertaining and well cast. There is a lot going on and everytime I watch it I find something different that gets me going! Buy this movie and keep an eye on the subtleties. You won't be disappointed!

What kind of Woody Allen fan are you? Do you favor his heavy, drama-laden homages to Bergman? His film noir? His zany early comedies?

If you love the latter, you'll probably like this "lost" gem. A bit like "Manhattan Murder Mystery" which was resurrected years after it was written, "Don't Drink the Water" conjures the early days of Allen's career with zany comedy full of larger than life characters and over-the-top performances.

The cast is great, the script is too, the plot moves along nicely and in general I had great fun. Yes, it seems a bit claustrophobic at times and a bit stagey, but many of Allen's recent work has a similar feel regardless of the genre.

All in all it is an enjoyable farce that harkens back to the golden days of Allen's comic genius.

Woody Allen doesn't make appearances on television any more, so this video, which is a made-for-television film, has an element of the historic to it for Allen fans.

"Don't Drink The Water" was originally conceived as a play. The story takes place in the communist country of "Vulgaria," where Walter Hollander (Allen), a caterer from New Jersey whose claim to fame is making sculptures of a bride and groom using potato salad, his wife (Kavner) and their daughter (Bialik) take refuge in the American Embassy after wandering away from a tour group and being accused as spies.

They are assisted at the Embassy by Axel Magee (Michael J. Fox), the son of the Ambassador (away in Washington hoping for a cabinet appointment in the JFK administration. Axel Magee is a diplomat so incompetent and so inept that he has been banned from an entire continent and was once burned in effagy...by his own Embassy.

The plot, such as it is, centers on the difficult adjustment the Hollander's are having to being "guests" of the Embassy, and their later efforts to escape. Allen plays his usual neurotic, highly strung character and Kavner offers but a slight variation to her prior characterizations in "Rhoda" and the Allen short "Oedipus Wrecks" (part of the "New York Stories" trilogy). Bialik is fine and offers some shading in the role of Susan Hollander, who falls in love with Axel, and Fox does his usual fine job bringing some depth to the character of Axel Magee.

The high point in casting, however, is that of the fine character actor Edward Hermann in the role of "Kilroy." It's a pity that Hermann isn't seen more often, because he is a gem of an actor. His character, Kilroy, is an ultra-conservative by-the-book diplomat who despises Axel Magee for his incompetence. Then, hit in the head by a projectile during a riot outside the Embassy, he suffers a concussion and acts as though he were the Wright brothers -- both of them. The low point in casting is that of Dom DeLuise as "Father Drobny," a priest who has sought political asylum at the Embassy and hasn't left in seven years. DeLuise, regrettably, offers us the same pseudo-Italian accent he's been doing since the "Dean Martin Roasts" and "Smokey & The Bandit II."

Although the characters are somewhat broadly drawn (remember, this is farce), the film was enjoyable and a definite move forward from the late 1960's-early 1970's film version that starred Jackie Gleason, Estelle Parsons and Ted Bessell (the latter of "That Girl" fame).

My favorite line from the film. Upon learning that his catering partner has purchased budget beef, resulting in guests contracting food poisoning at a function his company catered, the following exchange occurs: KAVNER: Are they going to sue? ALLEN: No, Marion. We're going to sue them. For low resistance to tainted meat.

You don't need to be a fan of Woody Allen to enjoy this movie.

From their entrance into the American Embassy to their exit, the Hollanders are a handful. It's funny just watching Michael J. Fox's character attempting to deal with all the craziness that occurs as soon as they arrive. I don't know where Woody Allen comes up with such interesting storylines for his movies; the set ups are completely unique, and they pave the way for such easy and instant laughter. I rarely choose to check out movies that I haven't seen before because I'm always wanting to watch my favorites again & again, like this one.

One of the best movies ever made by Woody. A rare look at the complexities of the former Communist world through the antics in the US Embassy of an invented country of Vulgaria. Like a great old cartoon, with wonderful characters, especially the leader of the local KGB, played by Vit Horejs! He is hilarious, as is Woody's wife portrayed by the incomparable Julie Kavner. Michael J. Fox stars as bumbling son of the out of office Ambassador. Great comedians all. With documentary film style camera work. Great!!

Somehat uneven and not as tight in terms of plot as many other Allen films -- basically more of a setup (wacky family seeking asylum in embassy) to let the jokes roll -- but many laugh-out-loud moments and gags. I often find Dom DeLuise to be just too much, but here he shows a little restraint and gets the priest character just right. His "priest" has a network of intelligence behind him, & he telephones them with "subtle" coded messages such as, "The boy with the blue hair is fondling a chipmunk." He also performs some of the best magic routines I've ever seen; best because they are so hilariously stupid. ROFLMAO to see him giving the tricks away either as he's performing them or immediately afterward, when he casually put down the "secret" prop or whatever in plain view.

Great laughs, easy to watch -- Allen gives us one of his lowbrow characters rather than his intellectual neurotic types.

Enjoy!

This movie is hysterical! I am a huge Woody Allen Fan and have seen nearly all of his movies. There are some movies by Woody that even I'm not that fond of BUT.....this is not one of them. This movie is entertaining and well cast. There is a lot going on and everytime I watch it I find something different that gets me going! Buy this movie and keep an eye on the subtleties.....you won't be disappointed!

This is a very funny movie starring the stunning Mayim Bialik and that gets my butt on the seat, on top of that it flows well. Woody Allen movies are a bit over the top but you know he is consistent. Men of the world must thank him for putting Scarlet Johansen in many of his films too. A big 9/10.

This movie is a gem. I loved it from start to finish. Michael J.Fox did amazing job in this film. He was cute, clusmy, charming. You'll fall for him in this film. I loved it. A little terrific movie.