- Ensemble Dark Horse: Debbie is a favorite out of the five kids for many fans despite how long she spends Put on the Bus.
- Harsher in Hindsight: When Ivan gets involved in a relationship with the leading lady of the play he wrote, she is the one to initiate the relationship and it ends civilly. Given how Ivan is an Author Avatar of scriptwriter Israel Horovitz, who was repeatedly accused of sexual assault or harassment by actresses involved in his productions, this can feel more awkward than it did at the time of the film's release.
- Vindicated by History: The film received lukewarm reviews when it came out, but since then, more people have come to appreciate its Dramedy blend and Pacino's performance more.
- The Woobie: The resigned way Gloria's kids (especially Debbie and Spike) talk about how she's dragged them from one family to another and will leave them and split up their new families at the drop of a hat while their biological fathers probably don't care about them either can really make a viewer feel for them.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Ymmv/AuthorAuthor1982
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