Woody Allen's imprint is all over each of his films. He writes films with him as the main character. Thus, Owen Wilson's Gil is a channeling of Allen himself. We see his sensibilities, way of thinking, even speaking translated into Wilson's performance. Along with this, what's most notable about Allen's films is the rhythm at which his character's speak. There is a back and forth between characters that reveal relationship and what is going on beneath the surface in a way that is distinct from other filmmakers.
An example of this is Gil's conversations with Inez contrasted to those with Adriana. With Inez the language is clipped, choppy, quick and seems to spiral throughout. While with Adriana, Gil's language becomes more dazzling, a bit smoother and more steady. What we find in this is that Gil and Inez' issues are revealed in how they communicate. We know they aren't a good fit just from hearing them speak to one another. But when we listen to Adriana and Gil there sounds like a longing between them that doesn't exist between he and Inez. This makes us care for his relationship with Adriana and has us wondering, "When is he going to call Inez out on cheating on him?"
The film's jump into 1920s Paris is a connection to the writer's imagination. That he is able to hop from one place to another, regardless of realistic limitations with time. This contradicts Inez and her parents ability to think any other way than rationally (and in ways that don't meet their "standard of expectation"). Again this reveals character by creating conflict between them as they don't see the world with the same point of view. And this eventually leads to Gil walking out on Inez.
