Author! Author! (1982)

A playwright (Al Pacino) is about to go into rehearsals for his latest Broadway show with a movie actress (Dyan Cannon) who's never done Broadway before. Meanwhile, his unstable wife (Tuesday Weld) is having an affair and leaves him, letting him take care of her 4 kids (from 3 different husbands) and his own son (Eric Gurry). Directed by Arthur Hiller (LOVE STORY), this is sort of a comedic KRAMER VS. KRAMER from an original screenplay by Israel Horovitz. This is the kind of film with movie kids as opposed to real kids. They are all wise beyond their years and talk like 40 year olds and so obnoxious that one can't blame Weld for running off. If they were my kids I'd abandon them too! On the plus side, this is one of Pacino's most likable performances and proof that he can turn it way down when necessary. Cannon's role is underwritten but Weld, probably the film's most realized and honest character, gets a chance to make something of her role. With Alan King, Andre Gregory and Bob Dishy.