Love him or hate him, you have to have a certain respect for the genius that is Woody Allen. The guy has been around forever churning out movie after movie. And while I do tire of that whole neurotic routine, it is an Allen staple. In Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Allen plays an insurance investigator trying to solve a case involving stolen jewelry. Of course the culprit is someone who he least suspects. Complicating matters is Helen Hunt as a self assured efficiency expert who really has it in for Allen.

While there is nothing groundbreaking about the performances here, I really loved this film's sweet, and light tone. It's 40's gumshoe, mystery, flavor was most welcome. And while this isn't Allen's finest hour for flat out hilarity, it's a Godsend in a year full of dismal comedies.

At it's heart, Curse of the Jade Scorpion is a romance. And while we've seen this scenario before (contempt as a disguise for hidden feelings of love), Allen keeps things subtle by masking the obvious through a hypnotism subplot.

As is the case in most Woody Allen pictures, he manages to round up a familiar cast. Surprisingly, this picture features a smaller ensemble including Dan Aykroyd, Wallace Shawn, Charlize Theron and David Ogden Stiers.

The Curse of the Jade Scorpion is a light, screwball comedy with an immensely entertaining plot. While the dialogue isn't always up to the master's standards, (this is no Manhattan, Annie Hall or Bullets Over Broadway), I enjoyed it's breezy tone nonetheless.