The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)

A very cute little fantasy. Cecelia (Mia Farrow) is a waitress and housewife in New Jersey during the 1930s. Her husband, Monk (Danny Aiello), beats her and also cheats on her. She is also not a very good waitress. She goes to the movies to lose herself in the stories on the big screen. Soon she is fired from her job and she catches her husband with another woman in their apartment. One day she sits through a movie called The Purple Rose of Cairo several times when something amazing happens. One of the characters, Tom Baxter (Jeff Daniels), starts talking to her from the movie and then walks right off the screen and into the theater. He and Cecelia take off and spend some glorious times together. However, the fact that Tom is gone traps the rest of the characters in the scene and they can not move on without him. Soon the head of the studio and the actor who plays Tom, Gil Shepard, head to New Jersey to get Tom back into the scene and to save both of their hides. However, Tom and Cecelia are in love and will not give up easily.

This is the only Woody Allen movie I have ever liked. I often think he is way overrated but this was an enjoyable film. Farrow brought a wonderful innocence to the part of Cecelia. Daniels was also terrific in his duel role. He enjoyed the film so much he name his playhouse in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan The Purple Rose. If you like a nice romantic fantasy film this one is for you.