Mighty Aphrodite

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Mighty Aphrodite ★★½ 1995 (R)

Neurotic (Surprise!) New York sportswriter Lenny Weinrib (Allen) is trapped in an unhappy marriage to art dealer Amanda (Bonham Carter), who talks him into adopting a child. Film comes alive when Lenny tracks down his son's biological mother, consummate dumb blond and hooker/porno actress Linda, played with over-the-top (in a good way) gusto by Sorvino. Lenny attempts to reform his son's real mother while a Greek chorus (including Abraham and Dukakis) provide a running commentary on the tragedy/comedy of Lenny's predicaments. Allen's 31st film treads into familiar Woodman waters but falls short of his past comic genius. 95m/C VHS, DVD . Woody Allen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Mira Sorvino, F. Murray Abraham, Michael Rapaport, Jack Warden, Olympia Dukakis, Peter Weller, Claire Bloom, David Ogden Stiers; D: Woody Allen; W: Woody Allen; C: Carlo Di Palma; M: Dick Hyman. Oscars ‘95: Support. Actress (Sorvino); Golden Globes ‘96: Support. Actress (Sorvino); Natl. Bd. of Review ‘95: Support. Actress (Sorvino); N.Y. Film Critics ‘95: Support. Actress (Sorvino); Broadcast Film Critics ‘95: Support. Actress (Sorvino).