
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, October 2, 1993                   TAG: 9404210001
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

`MANHATTAN MURDER' ISN'T GREAT, BUT IT'S ENTERTAINING

``Manhattan Murder Mystery'' is certainly not Woody Allen's best movie, but it's the funniest he has made in years. As a light diversion, it's a welcome change from the summer blockbusters.

Allen's private life has been so much in the news recently that it's difficult to separate from his often autobiographical films. In this instance, though, he's having fun with an undemanding genre - the comic mystery - and he spins it out with a light touch.

Larry (Allen) and Carol (Diane Keaton) Lipton are typical, albeit rich New Yorkers. He's a book editor; she's thinking about opening a restaurant; they barely know the older couple who live down the hall. Then they meet Paul (Jerry Adler) and Lillian (Lynn Cohen) House in the elevator and are invited over for coffee.

It's a vintage Allen scene - a little neurotic and uncomfortable, filled with witty throwaway lines - but it has a surprise ending. A day or so later, Lillian is dead. Almost immediately, Carol begins to suspect that something is amiss. To Larry's chagrin, she decides that Paul killed his wife and she's going to do something about it.

At the same time, their recently divorced friend Ted (Alan Alda) seems to have fallen in love with Carol. He encourages her suspicions, and happily takes part in her amateur sleuthing. What's Larry to do? Should he continue to make fun of his wife's obsession, or should he join her? Or should he just introduce Ted to Marcia (Anjelica Huston), the sexy novelist?

It really wouldn't be fair to reveal much more of the plot because Allen and co-writer Marshall Brickman take their mystery seriously. The clues are revealed slowly through a series of inventive scenes. The mixture of comedy, suspense and character development is nicely balanced. If the plot becomes a bit far-fetched at times, that's forgivable because it's played out with some very funny bits of business.

As director, Allen has created yet another valentine to his hometown. He can make New York look simultaneously realistic and lovely as well as anybody in the business. But the real key to the film is Diane Keaton's performance. She has always done her best work with Allen. Though this film doesn't have the depth of ``Annie Hall,'' their scenes together, bouncing well-timed lines off each other, are a delight.

So, don't expect the moon and the stars from ``Manhattan Murder Mystery.'' But for intelligent entertainment without violence, vulgarity or dazzling visual effects, it's one of the best things at the movies these days.

Manhattan Murder Mystery: *** A TriStar release playing at the Salem Valley 8; 108 min. Rated PG for subject matter.

by CNB