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Review: Mighty Aphrodite

From: Gary
Date: 24 May 2000
Time: 11:43:24

Comments

Mighty Aphrodite is another classic film from Woody Allen. The letterbox DVD edition shines on many fronts.

This movie has a lot of feel good parts about it. We rejoice in the simplicity of Linda, the birth mother of Max, Allen’s adopted son, and also in the relationship between Woody Allen and Mira Sorvino. He becomes protective of her even to the point of confronting her pimp in his own cowardly way. In this movie we are Woody Allen seeing what is right for Linda Ash. The film is filled with typical wry humour and the obviousness of the human condition, this is punctuated by the Greek chorus narrating from the wings. The magic of the movie is when the major characters start directly interacting with this chorus. In a wonderful, warm and tender final scene we are again left joyous as to the foibles of humanity. Lenny (Woody Allen) and Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter) have an adopted son Max who turns out to be brilliant. Lenny becomes obsessed with finding his real parents because they too must be brilliant. When he finds that Linda Ash (Mira Sorvino) is Max' real mother, Lenny is disappointed. Linda is a prostitute and porn star. On top of that, she is quite possibly the dumbest person Lenny has ever met. Interwoven is a wonderful Greek chorus linking the story with the story of Oedipus. An excellent transfer and an excellent comedy. A very worthy addition to one’s collection.

4 stars out of 5

Gary


Last changed: August 24, 2014