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Don't Drink the Water
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Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: VHS Tape
EAN: 0786936146912
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
Label: Walt Disney Video
Languages: English (Original Language),
Manufacturer: Walt Disney Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Walt Disney Video
Release Date: June 05, 2001
Running Time: 92 minutes
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Theatrical Release Date: December 18, 1994
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Editorial Review:
Fans of Woody Allen's earlier, more purely comic movies will enjoy Don't Drink the Water, a film of his successful stage play about a hapless diplomat during the cold war. Michael J. Fox plays Axel McGee, the son of an ambassador to an unnamed Communist country. Though forced by family pressure to enter diplomacy, McGee has no talent for it whatsoever and has been kicked out of cities, countries, and even entire continents. When his father goes back to Washington to seek a higher position, he reluctantly leaves Axel in charge. For a few days, all goes well. But then the Hollanders arrive (Julie Kavner, Mayim Bialik, and Allen himself), a Jewish family from New Jersey who accidentally took pictures of a sensitive intersection. Accused of being spies, they seek asylum at the embassy--and immediately send everything out of whack by insulting the chef, tying up the phones with long distance calls, and almost starting an international incident by squabbling with a Middle Eastern emir. Eccentric characters abound, including a priest who's been in asylum at the embassy for so long he's taken up magic tricks to pass the time (Dom DeLuise) and a snooty bureaucrat who thinks McGee is an idiot (Edward Herrmann). It was funnier when the cold war was still going on, but it's still an entertaining farce, directed by Allen. --Bret Fetzer
Ever-popular Michael J. Fox (MARS ATTACKS!, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT) and Woody Allen (SMALL TIME CROOKS, DECONSTRUCTING HARRY) star in this hilarious comedy where an outrageous mix-up labels an unsuspecting family of American tourists as a notorious ring of spies! The Hollanders are enjoying their trip behind the Iron Curtain until Walter (Allen) innocently snaps a picture of the sunset ... over a politically sensitive area! Before he knows it, his family is the focus of a major international espionage incident! Forced to seek refuge at the American Embassy -- it's up to the Ambassador's diplomatically inept son (Fox) to keep the Hollanders from landing behind bars! With Mayim Bialik (BEACHES, TV's BLOSSOM), Dom DeLuise (ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS) and Julie Kavner (DECONSTRUCTING HARRY, TV's THE SIMPSONS) in a great cast of familiar faces -- you'll laugh along with the hapless Hollanders as they find out just how hard it is to get around the Iron Curtain!
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Great fun!
I enjoyed the film very much. Good high energy performances (and far superior to the Jackie Gleason/Estelle Parsons early '60s version....Gleason, who was brilliant in so many other areas, just couldn't get this right).
Correction: Allen's wife is not played by Julie Hagerty (ref "Airplane" and "Lost in America," but Julie Kavner, who had appeared with Allen previously in "Oedipus Wrecks," from the short film compilation, "New York Stories."
Rating:  - DON'T DRINK THE WATER WOODY ALLEN!!
One of the best movies ever made by Woody. A rare look at the complexities of the former Communist world through the antics in the US Embassy of an invented country of Vulgaria. Like a great old cartoon, with wonderful characters, especially the leader of the local KGB, played by Vit Horejs! He is hilarious, as is Woody's wife portrayed by the incomparable Julie Kavner. Michael J. Fox stars as bumbling son of the out of office Ambassador. Great comedians all. With documentary film style camera ... Read More
Rating:  - Woody's Worst?
My wife and I are great Woody Allen fans. While we have most of his movies, this is one we missed. Based on the high Amazon ratings, we ordered it. What a dog of a movie! Michael J. Fox, Dom DeLuise and the girl playing Woody's daughter stink. Their combined horrible acting brings down the movie. Casting Fox in this role is beyond comprehension! His "acting" was pathedtic. He couldn't stand still for even a few seconds in a scene. Woody should have burned all copies since this leaves a bad ... Read More
Rating: - Stagey Gem
This one is a must for fans and will certainly earn Woody more of the same. I like it because it was very stagey, no surprise for a filmed play. Woody has made some brilliant films and this isn't one of them, but its fun, energetic and we see him in classic Jewish Kay/Hope/Marx/Lewis/Allen mode. Great fun. And dont forget the marvellous Julie Hagerty, voice of Marge Simpson, but even so much better as a comedienne.
Rating:  - A very surprisingly average comedy.
`Don't Drink the Water', directed by Woody Allen and based on a Broadway play by Allen is distinctly different from most of his other films due to its dated and just ordinarily funny plot and jokes.
As amazing as it may be to say this, almost all of Allen's movies hold up extremely well over time. There seem to be no serious dependencies on the events of the day. Even Zellig, which takes place in a definite time in history, stands up as well as, for example, `Casablanca' or `The Godfather' ... Read More
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