Mighty Aphrodite (1995)

Husbands and Wives had been all but ignored at the box office, Manhattan Murder Mystery was a self-confessed indulgent and fun little film, but it was Mighty Aphrodite that finally seemed to prove once and for all that Woody Allen was back, in the post-Mia era, and just as funny as ever. The film, while having a few connections to his personal life, was essentially the type of comedy that Woody's fans had been waiting for in the 1990's. And finally, halfway through the decade, he delivered.

Woody plays one of the central characters in this film, a sports wirter by the name of Lenny, who has recently adopted a child with his wife (Helena Bonham Carter). After seeing his son's remarkable intelligence and behavior, Lenny becomes highly curious as to where his son's genetic gifts had come from. Assuming that he must have been conceived by some very good people, Lenny decides to search out the boy's original biological parents. This turns out to be harder than he had though, and he quite quickly turns to fairly illegal means to locate the name and location of the birth mother - and is surprised to find she lives somewhat nearby.

After a brief moral crisis, he finally decides that he must go and visit her, in an effort to learn more about his adopted son and his true heritage. The woman, Linda Ash (Sorvino) winds up being a truly unique Allen character, and is quickly able to provide a breath of fresh air to the film. Allen makes his way to her apartment and is startled to learn...that she's a prostitute and a semi-famous adult film star. Obviously, this set up is ripe with possiblities and Allen explores many of them, both humerous and dramatic. In the course of the film, he finds out that his son's heritage is anything but illustrious, yet he finds himself increasingly drawn to Linda Ash, eventually becoming an almost fatherly figure to her: trying to set her up with men, providing her with money, trying to talk her out of the life she leads and into a more noble profession. The interaction between Sorvino and Allen is one of many highlights in the film, and Sorvino ultimately wound up taking home a much deserved Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

In a rather bizzare and inspired decision, Allen also incorporates a Greek chorus (headed by F. Murray Abraham) into the film. The Chorus drops in and out of the film in key interludes in which they follow and comment upon the story that is playing out between Lenny and Linda. I've known a few people who strongly disliked this aspect, but I thought that overall it was a rather nice, if unexpected touch. A great cast, a great story, and some tremendously humerous moments, Mighty Aphrodite is another solid, entertaining Allen film.

Release Date: October 27, 1995

Domestic Total Gross: $6,468,498

Distributor: Miramax

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