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Product Details
Woody Allen's second film as a director was a wild, unpredictable, and unlikely comedy about a product-tester named Fielding Mellish (Allen), who can't quite connect with the woman of his dreams (Louise Lasser, Allen's ex-wife). He accidentally winds up in South America as a freedom fighter for a guerrilla leader who looks like Castro. Once he assumes power, the new dictator quickly goes insane--which leaves Fielding in charge to negotiate with the U.S. The film is chockfull of wonderfully bizarre gags, such as the dreams Fielding recounts to his shrink about dueling crucified messiahs, vying for a parking place near Wall Street. Look for an unknown Sylvester Stallone in a tiny role--but watch this film for Allen's surprisingly physical (and always verbally dexterous) humor. --Marshall Fine
Product Reviews
 (5 stars) - As prophetic as it is funny
It's amazing this film was made in 1971, because it wasn't until ten years later that our government began to reel from criticism due to our involvement in El Salvador, Nicaragua and elsewhere in Latin America, in the Middle East and other parts of the world. The knowledge that we actually did (and still do) support roving death squads, military dictatorships, the overthrow of democratically elected governments etc makes "Bananas" decidedly less funny, at least to those of us who're old enough to remember the Reagan/Bush Sr. years. But still this is classic, early (if at times uneven) Woody Allen. Just a single scene, where the carriers of two men on crucifixes start to fight over a parking space, makes this film worth the cost of admission. It's one of the funniest clips ever put on film IMO, and is an astonishingly insightful commentary on religion in general.
 (4 stars) - An OK Film
Definitely some good laughs in this one, even if it does slow down at times. I have never been a great admirer of Woody Allen's films but I have to admit he does some great gag writing. In this one he manages to become a guerrilla fighter in San Marcos, a small Latin American dictatorship which aspires to becomes a small Latin American Revolutionary state. But victory doesn't really change things for him.
The music is an aspect I never pay much attention to but in this film it really helps to make it. And I had no idea Sylvester Stallone made an early appearance in one of Woody's films as well.
(5 stars) - One of Woody Allen's finest movies
Given the political environment of early 1970s during which this movie was produced I think it is absolutely brilliant and hilarious. How can any one forget the court scene? Or the illiterate Marxist guerrillas in San Marcos? While it is funny, it is bitterly true as well. If you want lots of hard laughters, this should be on your list. I sometimes feel like I am gonna kill myself (jokingly of course) as a result of Allen's clumsiness and stupid nature. I was deprived of such movies back in Iran and now am enjoying his movies to the fullest and have most of his movies. Love it! 5/5
(4 stars) - 3 stars out of 4
The Bottom Line:
Made before Woody Allen attempted to leaven his comedies with more intelligence, Bananas is unapologetically stupid at times but it's also frequently hilarious with some standout comic sequences (e.g. when the dictator goes mad with power, the sportcasters at an assassination/marriage consummation) and a running length which ensures that the film doesn't overstay its welcome.
(5 stars) - One of Woody's best films, still hilarious today....
This was Allen's second film, and it's one of my all time favorite Woody Allen films. It's still hilarious, filled with brilliant dialogue, incredibly funny setpieces (some of the best of Allen's career), funny performances, great satire, and a great musical score. Allen would go onto deeper material and even greater films, but I still love this one. With Howard Cosell hosting an assassination attempt (still funny even if you don't remember Howard Cosell), to Allen getting food for his revolutionary outfit from a local diner, Bananas is filled with brilliant comedy. Some have complained that the film is a bit rough, but that didn't bother me that much. Most of Allen's comedies are consistently funny, and there are few, if any, lulls in them. This is great comedic filmmaking, something future generations should study and emulate.
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