In this fictional documentary, a man achieves notoriety for his ability to look and act like whoever he's around. Becoming a celebrity in his own right, he then inspires a song, a dance craze, and a Warner Bros.
The comedy tends to the smirk-inducing rather than the laugh-out-loud, and the second half wanders somewhat, but Zelig is a strong contender for Allen's most fascinating film.
Woody Allen's comedy about a self-effacing man, who swiftly changes identities is original, clever, droll, and extremely well shot by ace lenser Gordon Willis.
Zelig is small but it's one of those Allen comedies by which all his other films will be compared.
Guardian
December 22, 2011
A masterpiece: a brilliant, even passionate historical pastiche, a superbly pregnant meditation on American society and individuality, and an eerie fantasy that will live in your dreams.
Allen is one of the most recognizable, and least protean, performers.... [P]erhaps ... someone else as Zelig ... could have got the idea across without the blandly explicit dialogue and brought more dimensions to the role, besides.
