MIGHTY APHRODITE
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1995 Ben Hoffman
There appears to be no end to the genius of Woody Allen. Over the years I have seen some great comedies but I do not recall ever seeing any movie as funny as MIGHTY APHRODITE. There is no one in the film world who comes close to Allen not only in his incredible sense of humor but in originality. You have never seen any movie such as this one. From the opening scene (about which I am not about to tell you) to the ending clincher it is a beaut.
Right along with the comedy is a story with an ending O. Henry would have loved.
To tell you what role each actor had would reveal too much so let us just name a few that will not give anything away. There is F. Murray Abraham, Olympia Dukakis, David Ogden Stiers, Jack Warden (as a blind man), and Peter Weller as an art gallery owner who tries to get Amanda (Helen Bonham Carter, who plays Woody's wife) to leave Allen. If you remember (and how could you forget?) the lovely Carter from ROOM WITH A VIEW and HOWARD'S END, you are in for another surprise.
The story line is relatively simple. Amanda decides to have a baby with her husband, sports writer Allen. He emphatically puts his foot down. Next scene shows them cooing over a one-day-old baby boy whom they have adopted. This is followed by a discussion of choosing a name.
When the son is about six years old, Woody begins to wonder who the birth mother was and who the birth father was because he feels that one day their son will want to know about the parents who are responsible for his birth. Visits to the Home where they had adopted the child leads him on a great search. He finally finds Linda (Mira Sorvino) who has changed her name several times for reasons you will discover when you see the film. She is the birth mother. Her circumstances are not very good so Woody introduces her to a handsome onion farmer with whom she can live happily ever after. That part is played by Michael Rapaport.
Enough! For a great evening (or matinee) of laughter, this is the film to see. Surely the OSCAR people are furiously taking notes.
Written, Directed and starring Woody Allen.
4 bytes (Big ones)
4 Bytes =Superb
3 Bytes = Too good to be missed.
2 Bytes = So so.
1 Byte = Save your money.
-- Ben Hoffman
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