Moonstruck (Cher)

(Amazon UK link)

We acquired and watched the film ‘Moonstruck’ in 2012, but had entirely forgotten what it was about. So we decided to watch it again, hoping for a light evening’s viewing.

The singer Cher is the star of this film, as the thirty-something Italian American Loretta. She works for Johnnie (Danny Aiello) and they get along well. She was widowed when she was younger, and so although she doesn’t love Johnnie, she likes him very much and she agrees to marry him.

However his mother is dying, and he needs to visit her. He asks Loretta to call his brother Danny (Nicholas Cage) and invite him to the wedding, saying that they’ve been out of touch for five years, but not explaining why…

Loretta finds that Danny is very angry, unwilling to forgive his brother for a tragic incident that, he insists, destroyed his life. Loretta is immediately attracted to him, and decides to try to persuade him to make up with his brother… and they are inevitably drawn together.

Meanwhile her father Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) who is married to Rose (Olympia Dukakis) is seeing another woman. And her aunt and uncle, who clearly love each other, keep getting into silly arguments. Oh, and there’s the grandfather, who is a tad deaf, and has several dogs that he takes out for walks.

There’s no great plot, but it’s a light-hearted look at Italian-American families, with plenty of hugs, meals, and heated debates. It was made in 1987, and feels not just a tad dated but rather sexist; perhaps that was typical of the era and the culture. There are some mildly amusing moments, and some poignancy too, particularly when Loretta learns what exactly happened five years earlier.

Cher is excellent as Loretta, although in the scenes where she dresses up, after a makeover and new haircut, we thought she looked fake and unattractive, unlike her ‘normal’ look. Apparently her ethnicity is Armenian, but she managed to look Italian. There was also an uncanny resemblance to Olympia Dukakis, who was more-or-less unknown before this film. She, too, somehow came across as Italian although we knew she has Greek roots.

The men, on the other hand, all came across as rather caricatured. And the storyline is a bit disjointed, with several scenes including a sight of a large full moon, that ties the subplots together, but doesn’t really do anything for the story or characters.

It was a pleasant enough light evening’s viewing, but nothing special.

Review copyright 2020 Sue's DVD Reviews

Moonstruck (Cher, Nicholas Cage)

(Amazon UK link)

I'm not sure how 'Moonstruck' found its way to my wishlist; perhaps it was recommended because I've enjoyed other films of similar genre. Perhaps it was because I've rated highly a couple featuring Olympia Dukakis. Perhaps it was just random. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I was given it; we watched it last night, and enjoyed it very much.

It's a film about Italian Catholics in the USA, made in 1987 and I assume contemporary for the time. I suppose vinyl records were still played in that era. It stars Cher as Loretta, a rather down-to-earth bookkeeper, whose husband died suddenly seven years previously. I had not previously thought of Cher as an actress, but she plays the part very well.

Loretta decides that she will accept a marriage proposal from the middle-aged Johnny (Danny Aiello), an old friend whom she likes but does not love. He doesn't seem particularly keen to make any arrangements, but she is determined to do the wedding 'properly'. He hurries away to the deathbed of his mother, instructing Loretta, at the last moment, to get in touch with his estranged brother Ronny (Nicholas Cage). Loretta does just that…

The film is good fun, and quite engrossing, despite being somewhat caricatured. The box said it would be a 'comedy', but we thought it mildly amusing rather than hilarious, with some comic moments. However there are also some bittersweet parts, and some quite thought-provoking scenes which are far from funny. We liked the almost farcical scenes of confusion and misunderstanding which develop towards the end.

All in all, 'Moonstruck' was nicely done, the characters not too extreme or unbelievable (despite the plot being a little extreme in places) and there was a good, encouraging ending.

Recommended. It's rated PG in both the US and UK, with nothing unsuitable for children, but the content would not really be of any interest to a child.

Review copyright Sue's DVD Reviews