Deconstructing Harry (1997)

Thomson praises the film as an assured, richly constructed achievement and argues that Allen is a major director. He singles out the film’s brisk, lucid storytelling, inventive editing, and sharp ensemble scenes for praise.

The critic finds the film endlessly funny, unusually dark, and refreshingly unwilling to redeem its protagonist. They single out its painful, self-lacerating humor and disorienting shifts between reality and fiction.

Stratton finds the film provocative, funny and challenging, though its abrasive comedy may divide audiences. He especially praises how clearly Allen handles the film’s complex, shifting structure.

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The review finds the film darker and familiar in style, but ultimately witty, inventive, and very funny. It praises the abundance of ingenious comic sequences, especially the chaotic car-journey episode.

Errigo finds the film funny but deeply unsettling, with its dark comedy making it uncomfortable to watch. She singles out Allen’s scathing, self-confessional treatment of women and his own neuroses as especially disturbing.

Rabin calls the film a self-indulgent, hateful mess with too few laughs to recommend. He particularly faults its sexist portrayals of women.

The critic strongly praises the film as a sharp, relevant, and risk-taking comedy. He singles out Allen’s treatment of Harry’s real and fictional lives as an unusually convincing portrait of the creative psyche.