Strong characters are a plus in Woody Allen’s ‘Café Society’

What It's About: The look is luxe in "Café Society," Woody Allen's valentine to old Hollywood and Manhattan during a golden age.

In this romantic comedy, the 47th film he has written and directed, Allen has recycled familiar themes that mine the meaning of life and family ties for laughs, but love and regrets for dramatic effect.

Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) moves from the Bronx to L.A., hoping his mother's brother can help him find employment. But Uncle Phil (Steve Carell) is a wheeling-dealing agent, and doesn't have time to help the young man right away. Eventually, Bobby runs errands for his big-time relative, while Phil's secretary Vonnie (Kristen Stewart) shows him the town.

Sparks fly, they become a couple, but she had another beau, and it gets complicated. Bobby returns home. He helps his gangster brother Ben (Corey Stoll) run a popular Manhattan nightclub, growing into a confident, suave host. Marriage and family follow. And then of all the gin joints in all the world, Vonnie walks back in, and ... it gets complicated.

Performances: In one of his rare, real grown-up roles, Jesse Eisenberg ("The End of the Tour") excels as the eager young kid who matures into a well-respected businessman. In his second Allen film, he has the right inflections and tics to portray an Allen doppelganger.

His chemistry with Kristen Stewart ("Still Alice") is palpable, too — they've worked together before in "Adventureland" (2009) and "American Ultra" (2015).

As she has demonstrated in a variety of independent films since the "Twilight" series wrapped up, Stewart shines as the conflicted secretary.

But the real surprise here is Blake Lively ("The Age of Adeline"). Absolutely luminous, she has the right look for a beauty of the 1930s, but she conveys more layers as the well-heeled divorcee Veronica who marries Bobby than I have previously seen from her.

In another role demonstrating his range, Steve Carell ("The Big Short") nails the name-dropping movie biz glad-hander Phil.

In supporting roles, Corey Stoll is superb as a mob tough guy, but his storyline is superfluous. Jeannie Berlin (in the original "The Heartbreak Kid" in 1972) is a hoot as the Dorfman matriarch. The ensemble is well-cast.

What Works: While not as strong as his return to form in Oscar-winning "Midnight in Paris" and "Blue Jasmine," the story is secondary to the production design, which is absolutely breathtaking.

Fabled cinematographer and three-time Oscar winner Vittorio Storaro ("Apocalypse Now") shot Los Angeles in burnished hues and shimmering landscapes to emphasize Hollywood as The Dream Factory. When the story returns to New York City, the swanky nightclub has a Gatsby high-society luster.

The costumes perfectly capture the times, from smart business attire to glamorous evening finery.

The soundtrack, always a highlight, features Rodgers and Hart songbook and jazz standards.

What Doesn't Work: The story runs out of steam midway.

Yet, the performances and the film's lovely sheen are the takeaways in this nostalgic confection.

This story was originally published August 1, 2016 at 11:32 AM with the headline "Strong characters are a plus in Woody Allen’s ‘Café Society’."