Every time I see a Woody Allen movie I think that maybe I have seen the best one yet. Husbands and Wives was the last one that he did with his wife Mia Farrow. Who knew that running away with your adopted daughter would be a relationship killer?

The movie starts simple enough: two couples get together for dinner and one of the couples nonchalantly announces that they are divorcing. What ensues is a fascinating case study of how people communicate with each other and what the result of that communication (or lack thereof) is on a relationship. It also touches on the "grass is greener" syndrome and the pursuit of younger women by older guys. The great thing about all of these themes is that Allen touches on all of them with a subtlety that sets it apart from so many other movies.

Another thing that sets this apart is how it shows how overrated passion is in a relationship. The proof is in the pudding: how many times have you seen a relationship where two people are all over each one week and broken up the following week? The things that make relationships work are communication and understanding.

And finally: as usual, you get a real view into the life of Wood Allen. He did take some shots at himself (through Juliette Lewis' character) in how so many of his movies have different spin on the same plots. Also, he did show some of the struggles that he has in terms of fighting the urge to date younger women (not unlike Steve Martin in Shopgirl). It must be odd to have your art matched against a very public life.

follow me at https://IHATEBadMovies.com or https://www.facebook.com/IHateBadMovies/