Crossing Delancey (1988)
(On Cable TV, February 2021) Practically forgotten but certainly charming, Crossing Delaney takes us in Manhattan’s Jewish community to tell us about the romantic troubles of its heroine, a thirtysomething bookseller who gets pressured by her family to find a husband to the point of dealing with a marriage broker. Headlined by the rather adorable Amy Irving, Crossing Delancey is a refreshingly low-key romantic comedy taking place in hesitations and self-doubts, community expectations and a willingness to improve one’s lot. There are no flashy gestures, no clear antagonist and no overly evil character: the conclusion rests on which character is better than the others and willing to take a chance. The atmosphere of Jewish intellectual Manhattan is credibly portrayed, and the film does a lot with what feels like a limited budget. Crossing Delancey is not a flashy film, but it’s heartwarming and cute enough to be worth a look wherever you can find it.