Don't Drink the Water

Evidently, Woody Allen didn't like the original film of his script, so decided to star himself for a tv remake. It's the same story, but with a completely different look and 'feel'. Instead of an embassy in the middle of nowhere, this is more realistic--lots of people work there, and it is elegantly furnished. Allen is his usual frantic self, sometimes overshadowing every other character.

Michael J. Fox seems a bit miscast as the loser son of a diplomat in charge, and there isn't enough for Julie Kavner, as Allen's wife, to do but Dom DeLuise expands on the magician/monk role. It's really more of a filmed play, as all the action takes place in the embassy (no final chase scenes, no hotel scenes). This version is sillier, quicker than the original, andI actually like them both, but this one will appeal more to Allen fans.

This little known TV movie is really a bit of nostalgia for those Woody Allen fans who yearn for the good old days, and a 1970s Woody type performance. Like a train pulling out of the station, "Don't drink the Water" gets funnier as it goes along. The casting is good, with Dom DeLuise a standout as a magician, without any tricks that work. Woody is in top form, playing a character much like he did in "Take the Money and Run", or "Bananas". My only fault is the unsteady camera which at times is enough to cause dizzy spells, and the claustrophobic feel of the movie, since really this is a filmed play. What you get is a 1994 version of a 1970s Woody Allen performance. Expect lots of one liners, some of which don't always work, but plenty are hilarious, and that's all that matters. - MERK

Who but Woody Allen would have a character become delusional as BOTH Wright brothers?Fine performances all around ,with Dom DeLuise giving a great turn as priest/would-be magician in hiding.Infinitely superior to the 1969 film with Gleason.A minor gem from All

For those who are familiar with Allen's work, this TV adaptation of the play will be no surprise: it's funny, well-timed and far superior to the miserable Jackie Gleason version (done before Woody had the clout to insist on filming it himself). TV regulars Michael J. Fox and Mayim Bialik play to their strengths (although I would have preferred Cusack and Danes, or other Woody regulars - I can't imagine these two were his first choice), and Allen and Kavner pick up where Oedipus Wrecks lets off. Not fantastic, but what do you want? It's TV.

Don't drink the water is a rarely recognized masterpiece by Woody Allen. Filled with unforgettable characters and a fabulous script, this film is a must see for any comedy loving person. In my opinion, the best characters were Mr and Mrs Hollander. Michael J. Fox also delivers with wit and charm. There is a tricky priest, a paranoid American chef with a gun, an overly oppsessive housewife who is constently waxing the floors of the diplomatic relations building,a crazy walter-hating chef who cannot make an American meal,a diplomat who got hit over the head and now believes that he is the wright brothers, and an Axel loving young woman who believes in fortune-tellers. This movie has everything.