“Moonstruck” is a simple old school romcom that came to me with high praise. The 1987 flick was written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Norman Jewison. It won three of the six Academy Awards it was nominated for—a staggering amount considering the genre. However, I was unimpressed.
The Good
“Moonstruck” is set in New York City and the old-world skyline, dominated by the Twin Towers, plays a key role. It’s set in December, and as such the city is decorated with the appropriate holiday flare. And I loved the opening credits which roll to the tune of Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore.” I’ve said it before and doubtless will again. There’s just something about this old world that I can’t explain what I love.
Loretta Castorini (Cher) is getting engaged to a man she loves but isn’t exactly in love with. Loretta lives in Brooklyn Heights with her overbearing Italian American parents, played by Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia.
Loretta’s fiancé (the great Danny Aiello) asks her to invite his estranged brother to the wedding. This is where Loretta meets Ronny (Nicolas Cage), with whom she falls in love with whilst her fiancé is out of town.
The Stars
The acting is fine with all players. Cher won the award for Best Actress. I’m not sure of the competition that year, but she does an excellent job considering her primary background is music. Side note, Olympia Dukakis won the award for Best Supporting Actress.
And it’s fun to watch a young Nicolas Cage in his breakout performance. The character of Ronny is hot-headed and fiery. Traits of an Italian for sure, and something Cage can easily pull off. Julie Bovasso, Louis Guss, and a pre-“Frasier” John Mahoney lend support.
The Bad
I found “Moonstruck” boring. The run time of 102 minutes isn’t long on its surface, but here it drags for some reason. And while there are a few chucklesome moments, I never laughed.
Loretta and Ronny weren’t passable with their love affair. They argue. Cage acts unhinged. Then they inexplicably sleep together. The passion isn’t earned, and the chemistry is missing altogether.
And I get that Loretta doesn’t love her fiancé. But its tough to root for someone who is blatantly cheating on their significant other. If that’s not enough, Loretta’s dad is cheating on her mom and Loretta’s mom is contemplating cheating on her dad. So funny.
“Moonstruck” won a bunch of awards and comes with high praise from the typical gauntlet of film critics. At the end of the day, it’s a comedy that isn’t funny featuring characters that aren’t likable. It’s fine but nothing I would ever willingly watch again.
