At around 6.5. From what I've seen, the gist of an IMDb Woody Allen rating is that you can add two points to the film if you're a fan, and subtract two points if you're not.

My first time seeing this on the small screen, through a sequential re-viewing of the entire works (most of which I'd seen before, but not this one). Of course it has some great lines, deep existential truths and some perfectly observed moments. This is why I would watch any Woody film, you never leave empty.

On the other hand, Allen's tendency to ventriloquise any protagonist that isn't him is in full effect with Biggs not really up to the character's dialogue as written (whether this is a problem with writing, acting or casting doesn't really matter). Also, the early script often drags, as Allen's tendency to hammer home a relationship dynamic in the character setup makes for a lot of work in the first part of the film. I guess non-fans might be turned off by the lack of likable characters.

In the end though, this one contained some gems in the writing; and insight into the way the world provides you with plenty of impetus to conform to a bad situation, but very little to move to a better one.

Don't usually like to write a spoiler, but for me the obvious twist left undone in Allen's assault on authority is that HE should have ended up dating Ricci's character while sending Falk off for 'his own good'. As it is, Allen gave himself the easy out. He's a prick like that. But also one of the best film-makers that ever lived.

IRRITATING? Heck, yeah. Self-indulgent? For sure. A rehash of virtually every movie its creator has done in past years? Probably. Nevertheless, Anything Else also happens to be the most enjoyable Woody Allen flick since . . . well, take your pick.

Admittedly, it doesn't entirely work on every level but it's a movie that does enough to suggest that Allen is back to something like his best form.

With Anything Else, the much maligned movie-maker is clearly pitching for a younger audience. And it's about time, too. Allen himself takes a supporting role and in comes Jason Biggs (American Pie) as the neurotic Jewish Manhattanite, while Christina Ricci gets the nod as the love interest.

Biggs is Jerry Falk, a young Allen-esquire comedy writer looking to make it big and Ricci is Amanda, a chain-smoking, neurotically self-obsessed Beatnik who drives men wild with her huge eyes and button nose.

At the beginning the pair fall for each other instantly, then spend the duration of the film trying to work out their complex and complicated relationship - especially after Amanda's equally neurotic, narcissistic mother (Stockard Channing) moves in to their small apartment to live with them.

Allen himself stars as David Dobel, an ageing comedy writer who mentors Jerry during their daily stroll through Central Park. But it soon becomes apparent that Dobel has a bit of a problem controlling his temper and this works as a neat diversion from the romantic comedy aspect of the movie.

And Allen seems finally to have twigged that it's no longer plausible for him to make flicks in which he plays the character involved with some young girl. Who, after all, wants to see him, at 64, snuggling up to the fresh-faced likes of Ricci? Like any Allen flick, Anything Else is nothing if not wordy. As always, the conversations go on a lot longer than they should, but the script is at least scattered with killer one-liners. Such a moment arrives when Amanda attempts to reassure the sexually-starved Jerry.

"Just because I pull away every time you touch me doesn't mean I don't love you," she quips. In another scene, there's an entertaining exchange between the mismatched couple, who are reminiscing about when they first met.

Amanda: "I had a crush on you. Couldn't you tell by the way I was ignoring you?" and Jerry: "There was something compelling about your apathy." The picture looks great, too, with some neat cinematography by Darius Khondji that shows off Central Park to good effect - not, you understand, that anyone's gone to a Woody Allen movie for the scenery. It's the dialogue that matters most of all - and, even by Allen's standards, this features a staggering amount.

On the negative side, is the casting of Biggs. All those who remember Kenneth Branagh's excellent turn in Celebrity will cringe while watching this guy stutter his way through the traditional Woody role.

Ricci, though, is perfectly cast as an actress with an eating disorder, which reflects her own anorexia when she was 14. There is also a stellar supporting role from Danny DeVito.

I'll make this short but sweet. You must like Woody Allen movies to like this film. It is not your ordinary comedy. Good thing for me I think Allen's humor is great. Biggs did a very awesome job in this film. While he talked he scared me as to how much he sounded like Woody Allen. I will want to one day own this film. It is a very good one by the great writer/director.