For Better Or Worse

Woody Allen's movies inevitably make audience members cuddle up to the nebbish protagonist; FOR BETTER OR WORSE, on the other hand, makes the viewer willingly accept its central figure's self-pity. In the final anaylsis, the question remains: why should viewers subject themselves to this putz's unfunny melancholia?

Michael Makeshift (Jason Alexander) is a loser, unlike his colorful petty criminal brother, Reggie (James Woods). Nerdy Michael can't get a life after being unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend. He also is having trouble paying his overdue rent, demanded by his slob of a landlord (Robert Costanzo).

Reggie pays Michael to baby-sit his new brid...