Coming off two really great comedies, Mighty Aphrodite brings Allen back to contemporary New York for more fun. This time it’s ‘Pygmalion‘ set in the Woody Allen world. It’s a fun, light hearted comedy that doesn’t have much to say. But it’s anchored by plenty of jokes and one amazing performance.
![Woody Allen in Mighty Aphrodite](https://www.woodyallenpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Screen-Shot-2013-04-08-at-8.39.10-PM-1024x557.png)
Woody Allen stars as Lenny Weinrib. Together with his wife Amanda (Helena Bonham Carter), the two adopt a child who turns out to be especially gifted. When Lenny gets obsessed by his genetic heritage, he tracks down the mother only to discover she’s a lowly prostitute named Linda Ash (Mira Sorvino).
![Helena Bonham Carter and Woody Allen in 'Mighty Aphrodite'.](https://www.woodyallenpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Screen-Shot-2013-04-08-at-8.41.13-PM-1024x555.png)
It seems like the plot really stops there. If there’s a fault with this film, it’s that it doesn’t really live up to the promise of the premise. Some of the bigger ideas are washed away, the film descending into a funny but simple farce. Infidelity, slapstick and misunderstandings.
![The Greek Chorus in 'Mighty Aphrodite'](https://www.woodyallenpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Screen-Shot-2013-04-08-at-8.40.20-PM-1024x551.png)
There are plenty of great comic moments. The best is the Greek Chorus, who haunt Lenny, but also somehow keep a look out and pass him a pen. The dirty dialogue is great, and one can’t help but laugh at Allen writing all that porn talk.
![Mira Sorvino in 'Mighty Aphrodite'](https://www.woodyallenpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Screen-Shot-2013-04-08-at-8.38.39-PM-1024x556.png)
Mira Sorvino won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Linda. Distributor Miramax has a pretty good track record of Oscars campaigning, but that doesn’t take away from a fine comedic performance, and it’s probably the best work she’s ever done. Unfortunately, everyone else is doing a standard job. Helena Bonham Carter, Michael Rapaport and Peter Weller play pretty stock Allen characters.
![Screen Shot 2013-04-08 at 8.42.01 PM](https://www.woodyallenpages.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Screen-Shot-2013-04-08-at-8.42.01-PM-1024x556.png)
The production – cinematography, music, costumes, etc – also have a cruise control kinda feel. It’s something we’ve seen before – Allen’s modern New York. It looks great, and the locations are typically stunning. But it’s default Woody Allen – and default Woody Allen has nice moments too.
This is a fine, workable romantic comedy, but it’s lacks much of the depth that marks even Allen’s most difficult work. It’s a bit of fun, and Allen would continue to make these bits of fun films over the next decade – and they are not his strength.
Full cast: Woody Allen, Helena Bonham Carter, Mira Sorvino, Michael Rapaport, F. Murray Abraham, Olympia Dukakis, David Ogden Stiers, Jack Warden, Danielle Ferland, Peter Weller, Claire Bloom