Like many of Woody Allen's films, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) received decidedly mixed reviews upon it's release... and now, over a decade later, audiences are finally beginning to appreciate it for the wonderful film that it is. The strengths in The Curse of the Jade Scorpion are subtle, yet indelible. The 1940's period sense is impeccable, with great eye for detail. Great thought was also given to the development of the archetypal personas of the three main female characters... all drawn from typical characters from 1940's films. Charlize Theron is the sexy, uninhibited femme-fatale pin-up. Elizabeth Berkely is the stereotypical bubbly office ditz. Helen Hunt is the wisecracking, no-nonsense dame. Woody Allen is also in top comedic form as the male lead. With a good supporting cast including Dan Aykroyd, Wallace Shawn and David Ogden Stiers, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion is an underrated Gem worthy of more attention.
C.W. Briggs (Woody Allen) is an insurance investigator with a strong record of solved cases, making him a mild hero around the office...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Elizabeth Berkely |
especially with Jill (Elizabeth Berkely), the hot office secretary...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Elizabeth Berkely |
Briggs does not impress Betty Ann Fitzgerald (Helen Hunt), an efficiency expert, however. The two despise each other, with Fitzgerald viewing Briggs as an antiquated worm, and Briggs seeing her as an uptight shrew. Betty Ann Fitzgerald is a paradox, however, for despite outward appearances, she is having an illicit affair with their boss, Chris Magruder (Dan Aykroyd)...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Helen Hunt |
A comedic turn happens at an office outing, when Briggs and Fitzgerald are picked to be hypnotized by Voltan (David Ogden Stiers)...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Helen Hunt |
Unbeknownst to all present, Voltan now has both Briggs and Fitzgerald under his power, and uses them to commit jewel heists at carefully chosen times. The crimes are mysterious, because neither has any recollection of anything, and Briggs is assigned to investigate. Naturally, he suspects Fitzgerald, and vice versa...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Helen Hunt |
Meanwhile, Briggs is being seduced by the sexy and sensuous, beautiful socialite, Laura Kensington (Charlize Theron)...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Charlize Theron |
Due to his hypnotic state, Briggs rejects Laura's blatant advances...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Charlize Theron |
and even the offer of sex with her cannot release him from Voltan's control...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Charlize Theron |
Briggs and Fitzgerald's awkward hatred and suspicion is translating to love. When Briggs is arrested for the robberies, he turns to her for help. With confusion all around...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen and Helen Hunt |
something has to give in order to release the two from Voltan's power...
 |
| The Curse of the Jade Scorpion. 2001: Woody Allen |
