By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

This month marks the 13th year since I wrote my first review. To put these 13 years in perspective, if a parent read my review to their child, the child would be starting Kindergarten in 1999. That same child would now be packing for their freshman year for college.

My first review was a positive one, for the Steve Martin- Eddie Murphy comedy, “Bowfinger,” which still holds up as an entertaining yarn. During the summer of 1999, the competition for box office dollars included two Julia Roberts comedies (“Notting Hill,” “Runaway Bride”), “Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace” and the second “Austin Powers” movie. Feeling nostalgic?

While 2012 has presented some good blockbusters (“The Dark Knight Rises,” Marvel’s “The Avengers,” “Prometheus”), this summer has represented much disappointment. High priced celebrities like Julia Roberts, Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin failed to attract ticket buyers. Besides “Rock of Ages,” Baldwin presides over another box office disappointment, Woody Allen’s “To Rome with Love.”

Last year’s “Midnight in Paris” was the first Woody Allen movie to make me forget about his scandal involving Mia Farrow from 20 years ago. So it was with high expectations that I viewed Allen’s new film “To Rome With Love.”

Alas, this newest film is a dull retread about Woody Allen’s usual neurosis and existential theories. The only saving grace to this motion picture is the postcard cinematography celebrating Italy’s Eternal City.

“To Rome with Love” takes its cues from Italian farce. We are introduced to a young couple in love, their future inlaws and outside characters who are more interesting than the leads. The set-up to the punchlines is forced and so are the payoffs.

The 2012 Olympics wraps up Sunday and, hopefully, will release some more interesting movies before football season begins.