Author! Author! (1982)

There are many roles and different actors who play them. Some roles are suited for them others, not. In this Isreal Horovitz's story, Arthur Hiller directs Al Pacino as a Broadway playwright, a role he should have passed. Despite all his great talent, this superb thespian barely attained credibility as Ivan Travalian. Here is a man who by his own admission, was an orphan. There too but for his own efforts, go his many children. Ivan is trying desperately to finish his latest play, while struggling to hold on to his philandering wife Gloria (Tuesday Weld). Personal struggles find him doing his best to understand his troubles, while knowing that what he is doing is the right thing. If that were not enough, with his wife leaving him, Ivan finds Solis in his choice for a leading lady Alice Detroit (Dyan Cannon) a woman who wants him, but not his mix of a family. The story is comedic in rendering, but serious in its nature. With the likes of a true comedy team like Bob and Ray and the late great Alan King, it becomes fascinating to await its outcome. A good story with an over-weight talent like Pacino is like trying to shoot a squirrel with a cannon. ***

this Al Pacino vehicle didn't do much for me.Pacino plays a playwright struggling with writing his latest play,while dealing with all kinds of personal issues.i found it boring,boring,and more boring.i just didn't see the point of it all.to say it's moves at a sedate pace is an understatement.it hardly moves at all.Pacino is good,but i felt his character is underwritten.the kids are cute,but not enough to carry the movie.in short,i couldn't wait for this thing to end.i really wanted to turn it off several times,but i stuck it through to the bitter end.it wasn't worth it.but that's just my opinion,maybe i'm wrong.for me,Author! Author rates a 4/10

Taking a break from his serious roles, Al Pacino stars in this light comedy as playwright Ivan Travalian, trying to cope with putting on a play while raising his children and his son's friend. In a way, "Author! Author!" seems like the sort of movie that they just made for fun, but it's an interesting look at the vicissitudes of that particular lifestyle. It's not a masterpiece by any stretch (certainly not Pacino's best), but still worth seeing, if only to see the man known as Michael Corleone and Tony Montana doing comedy - although I doubt that you'll shout the title when the movie ends. Also starring Dyan Cannon, Tuesday Weld and Alan King.

I love this movie because it's a true "feel-good" movie. The kids in the movie certainly steal the show, making us laugh over and over again. We can all relate to some or all of the kids as we're taken back in time to the early 80's. Their innocent insights to grown up situations, as well as their comedic delivery make for a very funny movie. Al Pacino (the author!) leads us through this movie as the caring father of this group of kids, sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always loving, and you simply can't go wrong with Al Pacino! Alan King's dry humor adds a really nice touch to the movie. Take the time to watch this movie with your family, it'll warm all your hearts! My husband and I need to replace our worn out copy, which we never tire of watching over and over.