This Is My Life

Director: Nora Ephron Nora Ephron

Overview

Based on the book by Meg Wolitzer, This Is My Life is the directorial debut for Nora Ephron, who adapted the script with sister, Delia Ephron. Dottie Engels (Julie Kavner) is a single mother with aspirations of becoming a standup comedian. When her Aunt Harriet dies, Dottie gets an apartment in Manhattan with her daughters, teenaged Erica (Samantha Mathis) and ten-year-old Opal (Gaby Hoffmann). Soon, Dottie's career is taking off and her agent, Claudia Curtis (Carrie Fisher), gets her on a comedy tour. Everything seems to work out well for Dottie, except that her daughters are left without a mother. Erica, who has just started dating Jordan (Danny Zorn) gets especially mad when she hears Dottie talking about her personal information on a talk show. The two girls are further upset with their mother's choice for a boyfriend, Arnold Moss (Dan Aykroyd). Eventually, Erica and Opal try to track down their real father, Norm (Louis di Banco), in upstate New York.

Product Details

Release Date:	10/16/2012
UPC:	0024543848707
Original Release:	1992
Source:	ALLIED VAUGHN
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:33:00
Sales rank:	2,361

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Julie Kavner	Dottie Ingels
Samantha Mathis	Erica Ingels
Gaby Hoffmann	Opal Ingels
Carrie Fisher	Claudia
Dan Aykroyd	Arnold Moss
Bob Nelson	Ed,Dennis
Marita Geraghty	Mia Jablon
Welker White	Lynn
Caroline Aaron	Martha Ingels
Kathy Najimy	Angela
Danny Zorn	Jordan
Renee Lippin	Arlene
Joy Behar	Ruby
Estelle Harris	Aunt Harriet
Sidney Armus	Morris Chesler
David Eisner	Oliver
Annie Golden	Marianne
Harvey Miller	Lester
Patrick Rose	Gary Garry
Kate McGregor-Stewart	Jordan's Mom
Ellen Cleghorne	TV Talk Show Host
Valerie Bromfield	Dawna,Dawna
Diane Sokolow	Charlene
Tom Wood	Billy
Barbara Stewart	Joanne
Sylvia Kauders	Evelyn
Faye Cohen	Evelyn's Daughter
Theresa Tova	Rochelle
Marcia DeBonis	Linda
Heather Brown	Jessica
Billy Van	Agent
Bob Zidel	Mr. Kaminski
Joel Zion	Rabbi
John E. Johnson	Martin
Joseph Mastrodominico	Moving Man
Max Bernstein	1st Tree Boy,3rd Tree Boy
Oly Obst	2nd Tree Boy
Zoe Hayes	Girl in Mouse Costume
Renessa Blitz	Lisa
Lisa Boynton	Shawn
Audrey Webb	Mrs. Fabricant
Katherine Greenwood	Young Matron
Eric R. Mendelsohn	Ice Cream Parlor Waiter
Bo Dietl	Detective Wheedle
Juliet Taylor	Actor
Dr. Rabbi Joel Y. Zion	Rabbi
Louis Di Bianco	Norm Ingels
Gaby Hoffman	Actor
Carly Simon	Composer

Technical Credits

Nora Ephron

Nora Ephron	Director,Screenwriter,Screenwriter
Lynda Obst	Producer
Carole Isenberg	Executive Producer,Producer
Patricia K. Meyer	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Nora Ephron's debut feature, which she co-wrote with her sister Delia Ephron, is a warmhearted coming-of-age drama where comedy figures in the narrative yet does not make the movie that funny. Narrated mostly from estranged daughter Erica's (Samantha Mathis) point of view, This Is My Life follows a predictable path to tell the story of a single mother torn between her standup comedy career and watching her two daughters grow up. It's a noble character arc with the talented voice of Marge Simpson (Julie Kavner) in the role of the mother, Dottie. Unfortunately, the jokes just aren't that funny, and the stronger story line lies with dour Erica and her optimistic little sister, Opal (Gaby Hoffmann), who miss their mother and resent her career choice. Some funny character quirks do appear in the small roles of eccentric big-city agents played by Carrie Fisher and Dan Aykroyd, but such attempts fail in the neurotic bunch of baby-sitters who tell more stale jokes. This Is My Life does take a sitcom approach to the material, but the strong cast and the conflict between mother and daughter for protagonist make it a worthwhile exploration of show-biz families.

All Movie Guide - Andrea LeVasseur