The fundamental things apply in this film version of Woody Allen’s hit Broadway comedy: as usual, he plays yet another variation of his neurotic self and falls for a woman out of his league. When his wife leaves him, a film critic (Allen) obsessed with Casablanca, the paradigm of romance, enlists his married friends Dick (Tony Roberts) and Linda (Diane Keaton) to help him slide back into the dating pool. There at the shallow end, he encounters his idol, Bogart (Jerry Lacy) as Rick Blaine, who doles out sensible advice such as “you think too much — just do it.” Though Allen had already directed three films, he relinquished the reins to fellow newcomer Herbert Ross. A choreographer-turned-director, Ross lets Allen be Allen and gracefully paces him through lines like “you want a Fresca with a Darvon?” — Laura Emerick

Rated: PG