Spoonatects Am i the only one who thinks........Average?

Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Fabrizio Del-Grady Few films can come close to the fun and charm and class of Woody Allen's best romantic comedies, but Burning Annie does everything it can to come close on its low-budget, DV-style. It was made on the cheap, but there's a lot of heart put into it, and the characters end up being in some wider depths of range than expected. There's the insecurities faced, the shallowness, the admittance of guys as potential 'failures', albeit out of a kind of lackadaisical malaise college brings on, and how relationships- cliché included here- are hard work. Max (Gary Lundy) tries to break off from his biggest hang-up, which is watching Annie Hall like it was going out of style. For him it starts to seem as some kind of crazy sign that he cant hold on to relationships due to the movie. So he stops watching it after his last girlfriend left him. Enter in Julie (Sarah Downing), who apparently, according to his friends is a bit like the Annie character. Can he deal with this, or will he finally succumb to the bliss of a person he likes to be around with, his neuroses attached and all. Maybe there's only so much of Allen in Max, and by the end he has to get to terms with what's really in him and what's not in being with those he wants to be with.What makes the comedy rich is in the simplicity and expectations. The latter could be a problem, but the actors are fairly capable of taking on some of the nuances of Zack Ordynans's script. The friends of Max- Charles, Sam, Tommy- veer sometimes into becoming caricatures, but they get pulled back by the realities of their lives (college doldrums, there own dysfunctional attachments and ties with the opposite sex), and they all usually get their own piece of character depth. I really liked specific moments in such characters in homage-style to Woody's film, like when the guys are in the store, and suddenly it spins over to the other side of the store, breaking the 'fourth wall', seeing the uneasiness of an awkward admittance from one to another that they like the other. It's been seen many times over, but it's clever in the actors simple marks on what their characters are about from scene to scene (fairly consistent, especially with the completely insecure Max as played in average manner by Lundy). I also loved the dinner scene where all the couples came together, only to see how things could crumble so easily in social situations.Themes end up coming out well enough too even through the occasionally weak direction (a shot or two is pleasant enough, with some good tinting, but it's best when the director just lets the actors have their way with the material). Commitment, both to the other in a relationship is one of them, but not just in the rudimentary sense always, and Max's own two-sided self that becomes in conflict when hapless wit has to contend with more stable, down-to-earth emotions. The script is aware of not just the effect of pop culture on college kids (the Kevin Smith and Goldeneye dialog is pretty sweet), but of the labels brought out in such situations. Not that it's always completely successful; the ending felt a little on the uneasy side due to what happens in motivations between Julie and Max, as well as the dialog in the last dorm scene with the guys. But for the most part Burning Annie has charm to spare, even through typical scenes like at a rock club, and quiet little moments like playing hockey video-games and with a few great zingers put in there: "ooh, Snow Dogs." It's a little indie 'rom-com' that strikes much better at its narrow goals when compared to sociopathic case-studies in the guise of believable Hollywood relationship fodder. 7.5/10

kammm **Warning spoilers** If made for a bigger budget by a more experienced director, this would have been a hit. As it is, the technical aspects are weak. It was shot on HD and it shows. The lighting is off in many scenes, and the angles oft times don't match. The acting is great though. Sara Downing and Lundy are wonderful. As others have said, it is very true to college life; the insecurities, the quirky friends, awkward moments and odd couplings. However, I didn't think the character Julie was like Annie Hall at all, which was a plot point that wasn't well supported by the script or the acting.Anyway, "Burning Annie" is enjoyable. The script is the star. You won't regret renting it.

rkelly74 I saw Burning Annie at Clark University on April 3, 2004. Burning Annie is about a bunch of college kids who blame their poor luck with relationships on their ritualistic watching of Woody Allen's Annie Hall. The script is brilliantly witty and would seem to be begging for comparison to Woody Allen himself, if not for its moments of modesty and self-deprecation. It doesn't take itself too seriously and that is its charm. The film's editing was fun and playful, fitting into the rest of the film perfectly. Absent of any stars, the acting was quite impressive. I wouldn't be surprised to see Gary Lundy in another film very soon. As a college kid, I can completely relate to the characters and storyline. They hit the nail on the head with this movie. Overall, this was a superb film, and I would recommend Burning Annie to anyone looking to have a good time with a movie.

mrd21378 I didn't know what to expect when I sat down in the theater at Cinequest, but I was treated to an exceptionally funny, well-observed dark romantic comedy. Great performances across the board, and a script that reveals more layers the more you think about it! The kind of movie that will attract college students of every gender and type (well, assuming a certain intelligence). Frankly, it might be the most realistic depiction of college I've ever seen!Great fledgling talent on display here, I can't wait to see their next one (hopefully with a bigger budget).