Woody Allen is on familiar terrain with his 25th writing-directing effort, "Mighty Aphrodite," which explores obsession, guilt, love, sexual repression and, of course, angst.
In recent interviews, Allen has tried to quell the notion that this film — or any of his movies, for that matter — is confessional. And certainly it is not completely autobiographical. But to suggest that this story — about a man who doesn't want to adopt a child, is talked into adopting a child and then becomes a doting father — is completely out of the realm of cinematic spin control seems disingenuous at best. (If you can't see Mia Farrow in the character played by Helena Bonham Carter, you've somehow managed to avoid Allen's personal woes, which provided mountains of tabloid fodder a couple of years ago.)
On its own merits, however, "Mighty Aphrodite" is Woody Lite, a few hilarious moments, some mildly amusing ones and too many that are crass and vulgar without being sufficiently funny to redeem them.
Allen plays a Manhattan sportswriter whose wife (Carter) wants her own art gallery. They want a child, but she doesn't want to take time off to give birth. So, against Allen's initial wishes, they adopt an infant boy.
During the child's early years, the upscale family fares quite well. But as the boy gets a bit older, the marriage hits some bad road — Carter gets her gallery but begins an affair in the process and Allen becomes obsessed with finding his son's real mother.
The bulk of the film concentrates on Allen's search, and then his relationship with the mother, who, to his dismay, is a ditsy hooker and porno film actress (Mira Sorvino, who is very good but affects a Minnie Mouse voice that becomes rather irritating after awhile).
The biggest laughs, however, come from a wraparound gimmick, a Greek chorus in a stone amphitheater that begins chanting lines from classic plays but is soon commenting on Allen's dilemma. As the film progresses, the chorus offers specific advice to Allen and ultimately turns into a show-tunes chorus line.
Of course, Allen is always most adept at getting laughs, and there are the expected witty one-liners and even a few well-choreographed physical gags.
But in the end, the film feels unsatisfying, as if the screenplay needed another draft.
"Mighty Aphrodite" is rated R for considerable profane and vulgar language, some nudity and some mild violence.