Crossing Delancey (1988)

Crossing Delancey is a charming romantic comedy about the clash between traditional values and the modern world that too often pushes them aside. The story primarily focuses on the American experience of different generations of Eastern European Jews -- highlighted by Amy Irving's finely nuanced performance as the conflicted, ambitious Izzy -- but the tale is universal to any group of people whose roles and customs changed over the course of the 20th century. Directed with obvious love by Joan Micklin Silver from Susan Sandler's screenplay, Delancey is buoyed by endearing, funny supporting turns from Reizl Bozyk as Izzy's Bubbie, and Sylvia Miles as the matchmaker who brings Izzy and the more traditional pickle salesman Sam (Peter Riegert) together. Riegert's character is somewhat underwritten: It's hard to tell why he and Izzy should end up together, aside from his inherent niceness. Still, Delancey successfully stresses the need for love, regardless of Old World/New World, uptown/downtown differences. ~ Matthew Doberman, All Movie Guide