Three man-woman couples vacation for the weekend at a summer house in upstate New York in the early years of the 20th century. Writer-director-star Woody Allen doesn't merely tread his own familiar territory, he treads other filmmakers' as well. Aligning himself with the masters (Shakespeare, Bergman and Renoir), Allen confuses the austere and cerebral with farce. While even recycled Allen witticisms (and characters!) still manage to be funny most of the time, his themes here--choices and regret, love and sex and the afterlife--prove to be a heavy load for a summer fling in the country to carry. Only when Woody falls back on his very modern talk (predictably a barrage of sexual frustrations) does he hit his stride as a writer, and yet the ensemble cast here doesn't quite click. Cinematographer Gordon Willis lights the outdoor scenes with a magical glow, but none of these lustful but doubtful neurotics are very appealing. ** from ****

A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy takes a bit of time to get into(though you can sort of say the same thing about Smiles of a Summer Night, a Bergman masterpieces, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, one of Shakespeare's best-known plays for a reason), and while it is not one of Woody Allen's absolute best it is still a great film and one of his most overlooked(fairly accessible too). While not as gorgeous-looking as Manhattan for example, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy is beautifully filmed, in keeping with the whimsical tone the film has and the scenery is magical with lots of character and colour as well as a real fantasy vibe. The music is fabulous, no big surprises there as it is Mendelssohn, not only that but the music fits absolutely perfectly, as soon as I saw this title Mendelssohn's music immediately came to mind. The script mayn't be one of his most sophisticated or quotable, that shouldn't be expected though because the dialogue is still very funny with a chockfull of witty and snappy lines that has Allen's writing all over, and all done in a subtle and slightly endearingly silly way. The story is one of the most whimsical and charming of any Woody Allen film(very light in tone as well), while maintaining a good amount of realism. The characters are well-written, not the most likable but a long way from detestable as well. The performances from all 6 of the lead ensemble are just great, especially from a hilarious and suave Tony Roberts and Mary Steenburgen. Woody Allen has some fine comic moments too, Jose Ferrer relishes some of the film's best lines, Julie Haggerty is charming and always amuses and Mia Farrow does show some ease in comedy despite it being different to what she's known for(I don't think she deserved that Razzie nomination). The chemistry between all 6 is believable. So overall, a great and overlooked film. 9/10 Bethany Cox

"A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" is, in my opinion, an improvement over Woody Allen's previous effort, "Stardust Memories", chiefly because Woody seems more sure of himself here; "Stardust Memories" was essentially all about his indecisiveness about whether he wants to make serious or funny films; with "Sex Comedy" he settles down to a strategy: a comedy with serious themes - a strategy that has since become his trademark. This movie has a couple of very funny scenes, but it also examines marital problems, love at first sight, missed opportunities, pragmatism vs. metaphysics, the possibility of an afterlife, etc. Above all, it succeeds in transporting the viewer to a different place and time - it feels like a vacation from the noise of modern cinema. Allen's usually right-on-target instinct about the music and the casting of his movies is in full evidence here, with him and Mia Farrow quickly developing the kind of connection that he only had with Diane Keaton in his previous films; Mary Steenburgen is amazingly lovely as his on-screen wife. But the real stars of this movie may be the beautiful locations where it was filmed, and Gordon Willis' cinematography which memorably captures that beauty. *** out of 4.

The movie takes place in the early 1900's.Inventor Andrew Hobbs and his wife Adrian are having a party party at their home in the country.They have invited Adrian's cousin, an aging philosopher Leopold and his younger fiancée Ariel, a randy doctor Maxwell and his date Dulcy, who's a nurse.During the weekend these people feel like cheating on their companions.Also some spirits come interfering their weekend in the country.Woody Allen does solid work as the writer, director and main actor in A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy from 1982.It's loosely based on Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night.For Mia Farrow this was the first time with Woody of the thirteen movies she made with him.She didn't deserve that Razzie Award nomination.José Ferrer is great as Leopold.Julie Hagerty is very good as Dulcy, the free-thinking nurse.Tony Roberts is terrific as Maxwell.Mary Steenburgen does very good job as the wife Adrian.In this movie Allen goes very Shakespearian showing all those spirits going wild.The movie is better than its reputation.It's quite a delight to watch Allen with that flying device and taking Farrow for a ride.Also the magic lantern is quite an invention.The conversations they have with each other over the table is just enjoyable to listen.On the music department we hear some great stuff by Felix Mendelssohn.Allen's not close to his best here, but it has a lot of good.