Ira & Abby

Jennifer Westfeldt wrote and stars in filmmaker Robert Cary's Ira & Abby, which resembles early Woody Allen, and should serve as a strong antidote for anyone suffering from nostalgia for the Woodman's initial supposedly “funny movies.” Here, hopeless New York hyper-neurotic Ira (Chris Messina), a psychology grad student who's been in therapy himself for 12 years, falls for free-spirited health club coordinator Abby (Westfeldt). Soon, the pair are become hitched—much to the delight of her laidback parents and dismay of his stuffy mom and dad—but before long, the relationship spirals down into quirky squabbles, separations, misunderstandings, surprising revelations, and infidelities both real and imagined (and the script plays with the notion of too many shrinks by introducing a comic trio of counselors who prove as much hindrance as help to the characters). Ira & Abby offers some smiles and rueful insights about the vicissitudes of love, but in its almost slavish imitation of the Allen formula, the film ultimately feels like a mediocre retread. Not recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by writer-costar Jennifer Westfeldt and executive producer/costar Ilana Levine, three deleted/extended scenes (4 min.), four minutes of outtakes, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing comedy.] (F. Swietek)