MovieChat Forums > Play It Again, Sam (1972) Discussion > Hong Fat Noodle scene doesnt ring true

Hong Fat Noodle scene doesnt ring true

posted 16 years ago by beatlenut8
11 replies | jump to latest

When they get to the restaurant, Allan's confidence has done a 180 turn around. For a guy who worked himself into a complete lather before the disastrous first meeting with Sharon where the record flies out and he knocks the lamp over, you would think with such a fragile personality, his confidence would be shot to pieces. Yet, when they get to the restaurant he seems really relaxed and assured. Sharon excuses herself from the table when she witnesses him stuffing rice into his mouth like a slob, but even this doesnt faze him... in fact he mistakes this for her wanting to come onto him!?!? He still doesnt get the message when they drop her home and says she's got a headache and clearly doesnt want the date to go any further. She doesnt even want him to walk her to the door.

All that coming from a guy who was worried she might laugh or scream when she first lays eyes on him, and had to set up the apartment with carefully placed objects and put on the proper mood music to make a good first impression.

Maybe there's a bit of Multiple Personality Disorder going on with the Allan Felix character as well.

"If I'm not back in an hour sub-let my apartment". I don't think so. (But it was a funny scene anyway)

[–] pbl1 16 years ago

wow! your analysis turns the whole movie upside down for me.

puh-leaze!

What the $%*& is a Chinese Downhill?!?

[–] medarde 16 years ago

Well, you have to take into account the different times... he's nervous and doubtful BEFORE the date, when they arrive to the restaurant, he's in the date and trying to impress her all the time.

I think it's because of his insecurity, like when you're having your first dates... you're all wobbly before and then you do stupid things all the time and keep thinking that the girl is on to you whatever you do, I think that's what happens to Allen's character and that he portrays it perfectly

^^

Later, in the cab, it's true that maybe he pushes it a little, but there you have to take his desperation into account, he believes that he's going to score for sure and he's just not thinking right

That line is truly awsome, by the way
:D

[–] hendrixx-1 15 years ago

Relax, it´s a comedy.

[–] joshxq 15 years ago

I cannot exagerate how much it annoys me when someone says something like "Relax, it´s a comedy." It's such a stupid thing to say, it's unbelievable. It's only slightly less annoying than "It's just a film" - do you think that just because it's a comedy a viewer shouldn't analyse or think about anything that's presented to them? Of course they should! If the OP saw something in the film that didn't sit right with them, character wise, they are entirely right to bring it up for discussion without people shooting it down. The second commenter especially, who said simply "puh-leez" or something, is so *beep* stupid it's unbelievable.

[–] liltinglyric 15 years ago

I have watched this great movie more times than I can count though not recently. I think the flavor of Woody's date behavior was just that he just couldn't make a right move. Too nervous or too (falsely) confident. The point is he was a mess when it came to relating to women! No!?

A good point Josh - why come to a movie website and make comments like "it's just a movie"? Certainly not to those of us who love movies enough to spend time on here nor to a great filmmaker like Allen.

"If it feels like ham, don't wipe your *ss with it" ~ Jon Hamm

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] megArnold 15 years ago

Maybe the OP should get a date himself from time to time instead of sitting at home and analyzing this movie to death...

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ThereWillBeBeer 15 years ago

My take is that he was such a neurotic, insecure, maladjusted mess that he would be capable of anything. But on the othe hand he wasn't like that when he was with Linda. But whatever, relax, it's a Woody Allen movie.

[–] jmbwithcats 14 years ago

What's funny to me is that she said she had a headache all the way back at his apartment! She knew fairly quickly she didn't want anything to do with Allen. When he tosses the record out of the sleeve, I laugh out loud every single time.

I agree with you, it does seem odd that in the car he still is putting on the air that she likes him, I think he's just so insecure that instead of accepting it in the moment, he can simply go on with the charade lol, it's hysterical.

[–] nutsberryfarm 9 years ago

it probably was b/c of the monosodium glutamate.

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