The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) * * *

Directed by:  Woody Allen

Starring:  Woody Allen, Helen Hunt, Dan Aykroyd, Wallace Shawn, Charlize Theron, David Ogden Stiers

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion is a crime caper/romantic comedy which incorporates 1930's office politics, a hypnotist who uses his subjects to rob jewels while under a trance, and two people who loathe each other but soon find they love each other.   This is not Woody Allen on par with Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters, or Crimes and Misdemeanors, but it is well done and enjoyable.   He doesn't have to hit a home run every time up to bat.   Sometimes, a double will do just fine.

Allen, who was in his mid-60's at the time Curse was made, was writing and directing films with leading ladies at least 30 years his junior.   I suppose if you're going to make romantic comedies and cast yourself as the lead, you may as well have Helen Hunt or Charlize Theron throwing themselves at you.   In Curse, Helen Hunt plays Allen's would-be love interest who doesn't fall easily into his arms.   She fights it every step of the way.   She is no pushover. 

Hunt plays Betty Ann Fitzgerald, an efficiency expert brought in to streamline an insurance office in 1930s Manhattan.    She immediately clashes with C.W. Briggs (Allen), an insurance investigator resistant to adapting to technology in solving cases.    He prefers old-fashioned hunches and using street informers.    Their mutual dislike becomes personal quickly.   They hurl insults and general meanness in each other's direction.   Betty Ann is also the mistress of Chris Magruder (Aykroyd), who runs the office and is forever promising to leave his wife.

The hypnotist Polgar (Stiers) enters the scene during a nightclub routine in which he places Betty Ann and C.W. under trances using separate trigger words.     They declare their love for each other to the amusement of the audience, but soon the hypnosis is lifted...but not really.    The sinister Polgar has a different agenda.    Soon after, he only needs to phone either Betty Ann or C.W., say the respective trigger word, and command them to steal precious jewels to deliver to him.    It is quite an ingenious scheme with virtually no chance of detection.

The jewelry heists make headlines and C.W. is soon a suspect on the run without any idea why because he has no memory of the robberies.   Betty Ann still can't stand C.W., but she believes in his innocence even though everyone else doesn't.   There are times in which C.W. or Betty Ann are in the trance in the other's presence and they once again declare love for the other, but only under the spell.  Once they are not under the spell, it's business as usual:  insults and mutual loathing.

We know sooner or later Betty Ann and C.W. will fall into each other's arms.   The hypnosis provides a segue to convince us that love is still possible between two people who can't stand each other on the surface.   Unlike other Allen comedies, there aren't really any memorable lines or quotes that leap to mind when thinking of The Curse of the Jade Scorpion.   The film has a distinct look and feel for its time and place which works.     Allen and Hunt are charming, even when they insult each other.     The movie makes good use of jazz music of the period, especially during the heist scenes.     It is not a deep film and no one looks for the meaning of it all.     We accept the premise and enjoy the ride.     Allen is better at making such a film than most other directors.