What am I missing that everyone thinks Annie Hall is so great? It was just whiny and pedantic and miserable at every turn. I just don’t see the appeal. I’ve never really paid any attention to Woody Allen, but if this is his typical brand of comedy it clearly isn’t for me.
The very appeal of Woody Allen is his self-aware whininess, pedantry and miserablism (“I wouldn’t want to join a club that has someone like me as a member”). It’s okay not to like it - but I personally love it!
It was also innovative like breaking the fourth wall with a Woody talking to camera (see the Marshall McLuhan scene)- and playing with other conventions like split screen scenes. It had a brilliant and iconic part in Annie Hall for Diane Keaton.
Also echoes of Woody’s earlier slapstick stuff (the sneeze scene).
A simple comedy or romantic movie it ain’t!