The Curse of the Jade Scorpion: A Bewitching Nostalgia

So, there I was, just the other day, thinking back to when I first stumbled upon Woody Allen’s “The Curse of the Jade Scorpion”. It was just shy of the millennium, and honestly, spotting a flick with Helen Hunt and Dan Aykroyd thrown into the mix—well, that’s what they call serendipity, right? Now, I’m not saying this film is an Oscar-pleaser, but there’s something about it that tickles my Swedish funny bone a little.

Crafted in the hands of Woody Allen who knows his way around a typewriter better than most, this film dances between two moods like nothing else. Allen himself plays C.W. Briggs, this insurance investigator who gets hypnotized, and wouldn’t you know it, things get crazy! He and Hunt’s character, Betty, are just a whirlwind of awkward banter and unexpected charm. But if I’m honest, some dialogues felt a bit, I dunno… trötta. Almost like they tried too hard, you know?

I remember watching this with my morfar during long summer evenings in that rustic old summer cabin by the lake, somewhere outside of Stockholm. Those were the days of VHS tapes — adjusting the tracking was an art in itself. Maybe, just maybe, that nostalgia colors my view a little.

The jazzy soundtrack, though? Spot on! It transports you right back to the 1940s, something you’d expect to find in a vintage LP from morfar’s collection. But, here’s a small caveat: while the script tries to jazz it up, it sometimes felt like it’s trying too hard to be clever.

Reckon it’s just me, but this film makes me ponder love and missteps even when they’re wrapped in hypnosis and heists. Sure, it’s not a cinematic masterpiece but it’s got a certain je ne sais quoi. If you’re in for a laugh and a bit of nostalgia, throw on a kanelbulle and grab a cuppa. This might just be a quirky journey worth your time.

Check the trailer below