Review of Take the Money and Run

Woody Allen demonstrates his brilliant comedic gift with this early film. Not many comedians could pull off a joke where a side effect of a drug is that he grows a beard and talks like a Jewish rabbi. Woody plays Virgil Starkwell, a pathological liar and clumsy crook who falls in love with the beautiful Louise, played by Janet Margolin. You kind of feel sorry for Virgil's lack of direction with his life and root for him to be successful with something, even if it's robbery. Woody's dialogue and variety of characters keep your interest. The movie is also spattered with funny anecdotes like when Virgil's asked if he thinks s*ex is dirty and he answers "only if you're doing it right". Woody also comes up with many memorable situations like when he and Louise are arguing about what color shirt he should wear to a robbery. Another time Woody cuts a hole in a jewelry store window and runs off with the piece of glass. Allen had influences from earlier comedians, but he uses that influence to develop a truly original style.