The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

Set in a very convincing-looking 1940, Woody Allen's latest comedy is about an insurance detective hot on the trail of the cagiest jewel thief he's ever encountered: himself. Allen stars as C.W. Briggs, his company's best (or is it just luckiest?) in-house dick. But these days he's stumped by a string of jewelry heists and distracted by trading barbs with the firm's tough-as-nails new efficiency expert (Helen Hunt), who considers his department obsolete. Impetuous, Howard Hawks-style love-hate sniping ensues, infused with the requisite Allen neuroticism, as C.W. eventually discovers both he and his rival have been haplessly hypnotized into becoming the very bauble burglars for which they're looking. While Allen is funny, and Hunt is droll (but dry and distant), the other actors (Dan Aykroyd, Wallace Shawn, Brian Markinson, Elizabeth Berkley) seem under-rehearsed and hammy; even supernaturally sexy Charlize Theron isn't a terribly convincing femme fatale. Not on a par with Allen's recent efforts (such as Small Time Crooks), this is an optional purchase. (R. Blackwelder)