First of all, the film is a drama; not a comedy. Audiences need to be very clear on this point to avoid disappointment from the outset.  Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a tennis coach who teaches at a classy tennis club. Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), one of his pupils introduces him to his sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer) and suddenly Chris is on the up-and-up, entering upper class society with a job in the city and settling down with Chloe in a penthouse apartment on the Thames. But all this isn’t enough for Chris and he embarks on an affair with Tom’s girlfriend, Nola (Scarlett Johansson), endangering his marriage and everything he has worked to achieve.

Allen had tried this subject matter previously in his superior split drama and comedy, Crimes & Misdemeanors. London is only shown from the perspective of the rich, which is surprising considering that Allen frequently plays on class roots in his Stateside films. The central performances are adequate, but lack warmth or passion; and, clocking in at just over two hours, this may leave audience members wishing that more had been left on the cutting room floor. Is Allen losing his touch? Probably not, but a good comedy wouldn’t go amiss for his next feature.

(3/5)