The inner vanity of this outwardly modest movie is based on the fact that it tries to create "real people," a dubious virtue in itself, like "home cooking." These people -- the circle of friends, old and new, surrounding a would-be professional photographer who makes do shooting weddings and bar mitzvahs but who longs to break into the Soho art galleries -- are generally at the mercy of the director's attitudinizing. Nearly every scene is slanted to elicit a clear-as-a-bell emotional response, most often a warm-hearted chuckle (the Jewish heroine raises her rabbi's eyebrow by cursing, "Jesus!"). There's a misalliance between the awkward naturalness of the actors and the calculated Claudette Colbert-Irene Dunne cuteness of each scene. Bits and pieces work rather well, but the hit-and-miss quality should make you wary. With Melanie Mayron, Eli Wallach, Anita Skinner; directed by Claudia Weill. (1978) — Duncan Shepherd
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