Crossing Delancey is decently crafted in its approach to romantic comedy thanks to a subtle analysis of the interpersonal effects relationships bring and the nuances of the religious, cultural, and gender-specific components that affect it. The film follows Isabelle “Izzy” Grossman (Amy Irving), a New York Jewish bookstore employee. After a public reading of Dutch-American author Anton Maes (Jeroen Krabbé) at the store, Izzy approaches him and learns about new perspectives on life and love beyond what her Orthodox Jewish upbringing taught her. She then visits her Bubbe (grandmother) Ida Kantor (Reizl Bozyk), who resides in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Anxious for her granddaughter to marry, Bubbe refers to the local marriage broker who sets Izzy up on a date with Sam Posner (Peter Riegert), the local pickle shop owner. Though initially disinterested in Sam––sharing Sam’s feelings for Anton instead––Izzy embarks on a complicated situationship with him and her wants and needs. She navigates the conflicting components of her identity (her Jewish upbringing versus her career and desires), rediscovers her priorities, and learns to love in this charming New York tale.

Amy Irving as Izzy is by far Crossing‘s biggest draw. She portrays Izzy as a confidently charming person who knows herself better than most can. Despite the script’s varying quality, every joke made or line delivered by Irving is irresistible. Reizl Bozyk also turns in a lovably direct and insistent performance, making Bubbe fun and familiar to most lucky enough to have their grandma(s) still. The story is a little unbelievable, and much of the movie is chopped too short to the point of noticeable contextual gaps, particularly in the first half. Ironic ignorance also comes through occasionally, especially towards the end when the only people of color appear cartoonishly reckless. But when Izzy interacts with anyone, chemistry boils, and the characters are pretty layered when the film gazes upon them. It paints New York as an intriguing landscape of cultural crosses and contradictions, elegantly portraying how chaotic intercultural contexts and flows of discourse/information can be through Izzy’s conflicts. Overall, Crossing Delancey is a playful look at love, self, and cultures and how they all collide for better or worse.

Screens on Wed, 12/27, 6:30pm @ Brattle Theatre
Double Feature with Private Benjamin
Part of the repertory series: Warner Bros in the ’80s: Enter the Blockbuster