Zelig starts with a cute idea. Imagine a guy, Zelig (Woody Allen), who was famous in his time, but who is now almost completely forgotten. What made Zelig so popular? He was a human "chameleon." Just put him next to anyone else -- black, Chinese, Orthodox Jew, Native American, and he would start to take on their look, physical traits, dress.
Interestingly, I guess, he didn't have the ability to change gender. That would be a bridge too far.
But put him in a cockpit, and he could become a very bad pilot. Or, put him in a hospital, and he could become a very bad surgeon.
Anyway, the movie uses a documentary form, and the way that it captures the real look of 1920s-1940s footage is very well done. I never question if it's "real footage." I'm sure a lot is, but anything altered or created new for the film is seamlessly done. Bravo.
The problem is: The human chameleon gimmick isn't enough, really, to sustain a complete film. If you think of other mockumentaries, like This Is Spinal Tap, for example, it's about more than just capturing the band's picture. There's a real plot. Zelig tries to incorporate a plot with psychiatrist Dr. Fletcher (Mia Fallow) studying him and trying to figure out what's going on, but it's not enough -- just an excuse, really, to wedge Farrow into yet another Woody Allen film.
I also naturally think of Forest Gump. It's cool to "see" Gump as he somehow always appears at important moments in history. Zelig is around important moments, too, like when he's in the background of an important 1930s Hitler rally. That scene, actually, is pretty funny, but for the most part, the film uses photos rather than video. I'm sure it was easier to recreate photos. but maybe the way to make the movie pop more would have been to stick to using primarily videos (movie newsreel footage) and to actually develop a plot.
Rating: 3/5 stars
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