Woody Allen and his formulaic films are becoming cliché. Although fans viewed Allen’s early work as unique and classic, most of his recent movies appear mundane and repetitious. Unfortunately, Scoop falls into the latter category.

However, the opening scene featuring Joe Strombel (Ian McShane), a well-known English journalist aboard a ferry, is somewhat amusing, so I won't give any of that away. Meanwhile, Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson), an American journalism student on vacation in London, has a rather disturbing experience while visiting a magic show.

When Splendini the Magician, aka Sid Waterman (Woody Allen), asks Sondra to come on stage and step into his disappearing box, she resists but finally agrees. Once inside she has a visit from the now deceased Joe Strombel who informs Sondra she can get the biggest scoop of her young career by following up on leads that he learned -- way too late -- concerning the identity of Britain's Tarot Card Killer.

At first Sondra thinks the whole thing was part of Splendini's Splendini's trick. But when the headlines read that the Tarot Card Killer has struck again, she is intrigued and goes back to visit Splendini's box. When Sondra explains her interest, Sid almost thinks she's nuts -- until Joe appears and they both can see him. From that point on, Sid insists he team up with Sondra to help her find the serial slayer of London prostitutes, a killer who happens to prefer victims with short brown hair.

It’s difficult to take Sondra serious as an ethical journalist because in opening scenes we find her sleeping with a rather unpleasant film director simply to get an interview, which never happens anyway. Sid begins his side-snooping moves, and soon he and Sondra are ensconced in P.I. duties. Sid’s number one suspect is easy-going and fun-loving Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), a member of the wealthy British aristocracy. Sid is so into this new hobby, he's not above using Sondra as bait. We have to ask ourselves why, since he has nothing to gain from this venture.

Sondra bats her eyelashes above her rimmed glasses and giggles a lot to get better acquainted with Peter. Enthralled with her charms, Peter shows Sondra his secret treasure locked away in a hidden room. Peter falls instantly for Sondra. At first she only pretends to like him, then later finds she cannot resist falling for him. Who wouldn't?

Sondra tells Sid there's no way Peter is the killer. She even agrees to a romantic getaway with him. After finding more clues that suggest Peter is the serial killer, Sid realizes he may now need to rescue Sondra.

Some parts of this film are humorous. But although Allen is funny as Splendini the Magician, few of his jokes evoke laughs. Perhaps I might have enjoyed the plot more if someone else had played this character. Allen's constant stammering over his dialogue lines comes across as old hat -- too old. The fact that Johansson mimics him half way through the film only furthers the frustration of wanting something fresh.

Practically every actor in Hollywood feels a need to be in at least one Woody Allen film, but why some can’t see beyond that desire and pass on the role offered is a mystery to me. At least in Allen's Match Point, Johansson's emotional and scorned starlet character had some meat to it. In Scoop, Sondra is a giggly, goofy, bouncy immature girl who clearly would have no attraction to the likes of Peter Lyman other than a one-night stand. Johansson's smiling face never resonates as a real person. Throughout the film, this young actress seems to be announcing, "Look at me, I'm in a Woody Allen movie."

Evidently, Jackman (X-Men) wanted to add his name to Allen's list as well. He's such a fine actor, however, that he's believable even in this nonsensical role, although at times he too, seems to be wearing an invisible smirk behind his dialogue. And, like most of the characters here, Jackman has little screen time to impress anyone. While this ensemble film might entertain some viewers, I fear Woody Allen fans may be in for a few disappointments.

(Released by Focus Features and rated “PG-13” for some sexual content.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.