8 Popcorn boxes
Woody Allen writes, directs, and stars in this smart and funny comedy about relationships that play out over several years in New York City. Allen plays Lenny Weinrib, a sports writer who's married to Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter). Against Lenny's wishes, Amanda pushes to adopt a child. They finally do, and Lenny comes around and dotes on the boy, Max. Max turns out to be a handsome, intelligent child, which prompts Lenny to wonder about the woman who gave him up for adoption. He sets out on a long odyssey, in fits and starts, to locate the birth mother, whom he believes will be intelligent, good-looking, and classy. Instead, he finds a sketchy character of dubious morals, Linda Ash (Mira Sorvino)
Sorvino won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ash, and it's well deserved. She's both ditzy and deep, scatter-brained and complex. Smart she's not, but there's an inner center that she doesn't deviate from. It's a surprise that she could be Max's birth mother, but there she is.
Allen is at his peak at his craft here. It's a funny, insightful turn with a solid script and good execution. As usual, the cast is solid. Along with Sorvino, Michael Rapaport offers a strong, funny performance as a boxer, who's about a dumb as Linda. He's success in his mind because he's won all but eight matches in his twelve career bouts. He aspires, not to greater glory as a boxer, but to be a man of the dirt, an onion farmer. Carter is quite good as Allen's wife, though her character is more one-dimensional.
(Throughout the film, we're treated to an literal Greek chorus who observe, comments on, and advises Allen. It's a funny touch.)
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