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Love is a weird thing. It sometimes comes at the most unexpected time and sometimes even with the most unexpected person. This sometimes makes us wonder, is this the right person or should I wait? What if I miss the right person and grow old and lonely? That is some of the predicament that Loretta (Cher) finds herself in this charming romantic comedy about love and the right person.
The thing is that Loretta, a widow, is nearing her 40s, which has her perhaps a bit worried about her future in the romantic department. That is why when her boyfriend, Johnny (Danny Aiello), awkwardly proposes to her she accepts. But is he the right man? Early in the film, her mother Rose (Olympia Dukakis) asks her "Do you love him?", to which she casually replies "No", but he's the one she has.
However, things get complicated when she meets Johnny's estranged younger brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Sparks fly, and she has to decide whether to stick by her current boyfriend whom she doesn't love, or go for his brother who she's head over heels for. It might feel like a serious situation, but Norman Jewison's direction and John Patrick Shanley's script maintain a light, whimsical tone all through.
The thing is that Johnny is not necessarily a bad man; but he's not the *right* man for Loretta. Their interactions are awkward and a bit uncomfortable, whereas the chemistry with Ronny is instantaneous. Cher is a delight in the role, and Cage creates a uniquely endearing character in Ronny. Even though he tends to swing for the fences in some scenes, his Ronny still has an innocent charm to him that makes you root for him.
But as much as I enjoyed watching the relationship between Loretta and Ronny unfold, I think I appreciated more the way that the script handled the relationships between the older characters. There are several interesting developments between Loretta's parents, a womanizing professor that Rose meets, and her brother and his wife. Amidst all the whimsy, there is an honesty in how the script approaches some real-life issues that real-life couples will find that might lead you to question if you're with the right person or not.
Moonstruck is a fairly unique romantic comedy, with some great performances and an undeniable appeal to it. It is a film I had heard mentioned a ton of times, and that was recommended to me a bunch of times, so I'm glad I waited for the right time to finally watch it.
Grade:
MOONSTRUCK
(1987, Jewison)
(1987, Jewison)
"You're gonna marry my brother? Why you wanna sell your life short? Playing it safe is just about the most dangerous thing a woman like you could do. You waited for the right man the first time, why didn't you wait for the right man again?"
Love is a weird thing. It sometimes comes at the most unexpected time and sometimes even with the most unexpected person. This sometimes makes us wonder, is this the right person or should I wait? What if I miss the right person and grow old and lonely? That is some of the predicament that Loretta (Cher) finds herself in this charming romantic comedy about love and the right person.
The thing is that Loretta, a widow, is nearing her 40s, which has her perhaps a bit worried about her future in the romantic department. That is why when her boyfriend, Johnny (Danny Aiello), awkwardly proposes to her she accepts. But is he the right man? Early in the film, her mother Rose (Olympia Dukakis) asks her "Do you love him?", to which she casually replies "No", but he's the one she has.
However, things get complicated when she meets Johnny's estranged younger brother, Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Sparks fly, and she has to decide whether to stick by her current boyfriend whom she doesn't love, or go for his brother who she's head over heels for. It might feel like a serious situation, but Norman Jewison's direction and John Patrick Shanley's script maintain a light, whimsical tone all through.
The thing is that Johnny is not necessarily a bad man; but he's not the *right* man for Loretta. Their interactions are awkward and a bit uncomfortable, whereas the chemistry with Ronny is instantaneous. Cher is a delight in the role, and Cage creates a uniquely endearing character in Ronny. Even though he tends to swing for the fences in some scenes, his Ronny still has an innocent charm to him that makes you root for him.
But as much as I enjoyed watching the relationship between Loretta and Ronny unfold, I think I appreciated more the way that the script handled the relationships between the older characters. There are several interesting developments between Loretta's parents, a womanizing professor that Rose meets, and her brother and his wife. Amidst all the whimsy, there is an honesty in how the script approaches some real-life issues that real-life couples will find that might lead you to question if you're with the right person or not.
Moonstruck is a fairly unique romantic comedy, with some great performances and an undeniable appeal to it. It is a film I had heard mentioned a ton of times, and that was recommended to me a bunch of times, so I'm glad I waited for the right time to finally watch it.
Grade: