(1994) Four days after Ambassador Bradley Dunston Magee (Josef Sommer) departs for the US capital, leaving his incompetent son Axel (Michael J. Fox) in charge of the embassy in an Easter European Communist country, a crisis occurs. Three American tourists from New Jersey - Walter Hollander (Woody Allen), a caterer, with his wife Marion (Julie Kavner) and daughter Susan (Mayim Bialik) - seek refuge after being chased and accused of spying. "With my eyesight?" asks Walter, who had taken photographs of a sunset at a very sensitive location.

Informed that they may have to wait a few days for diplomacy to clear up the situation before they can go home, the argumentative couple bicker about Marion's brother's urging them to vacation behind the Iron Curtain ("$6,000 for uninterrupted diarrhea") instead of going to Atlantic City, their younger son Seth's coming home from camp to an empty home, Walter's partner's uncertain handling of the catering business, and arrangements for Susan's wedding to Donald the dermatologist.

Also inside the embassy they make acquaintance with Father Drobney (Dom DeLuise), who as a relic of an old regime has for the past six years been given asylum, spending his time practicing his hobby (other than God) of magic tricks. In an effort to placate Walter's complaints about the exotic menus (oysters, eels, and octopus, but no boiled chicken or Chinese takeout), the chef steals the priest's rabbit.

The ambassador, fearing political embarrassment, calls Axel from Washington, DC, threatening to "aim an ICBM at you if the crisis goes public." Two weeks later an Arab emir (the one who "owns the most sand of anyone") arrives with his entourage of wives and personal assistant as guests of the United States.

By now some customers of the catering business have suffered food poisoning; and Susan, attracted to Axel, calls off her wedding with Donald. After an exchange of two Soviet prisoners for the Hollanders falls through, Father Drobney recommends a daring escape, using his underground contacts. The plan is elaborate with a complicated itinerary.

Adapting his own 1966 satirical Cold War play into a teleplay, director Allen's comedy is mostly silly - after being struck with a brick, Diplomat John Kilroy (Edward Herrmann) thinks he's the Wright brothers - occasionally funny, but no longer topical. When Axel says, "I've got an idea," Walter replies: "I'll be in the fallout shelter."

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
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