Cher, Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck
Norman Jewison's Classic Romantic Comedy on Deluxe DVD
Jun 23, 2008
Recently ranked as the eighth best romantic comedy by the American Film Institute (AFI), the 1987 hit film Moonstruck won three Academy Awards in 1988: Cher won best actress in a leading role; Olympia Dukakis won best actress in a supporting role; and John Patrick Shanley won best writing, screenplay written directly for the screen. The film was nominated for three additional Oscars.
Moonstruck: A Reluctant Groom
In keeping with a common tradition in movies about weddings, Moonstruck presents a highly reluctant groom to romance the leading lady. Mama’s boy Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) has been a long-time friend to widow Loretta Castorini (Cher). Despite Loretta’s eagerness to remarry, Johnny has a fear of commitment directly related to his attachment to the apron strings of his mother back home in Italy. When he reluctantly offers Loretta a lukewarm marriage proposal after years of dating, she accepts his offer, despite her lack of passion for the man.
Moonstruck: An Over-eager Bride
Loretta’s lack of passion for Johnny actually works as a motivator for her to want the engagement. Because she loved her first husband and he died young, she fears that her bad luck will kill off another man if she loves him too much. Therefore, a comfortable, secure relationship with an old friend seems far safer to her. She’s eager for the stability of a marriage and the ability to move out of her parent’s house – that is, until she meets Johnny’s younger brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage), a disfigured baker with a grudge against his older brother, who also possesses an appreciation for opera and an irrepressibly passionate nature. Even though the situation calls for logic and restraint, the immediate chemistry between the two sparks a forbidden romance that goes against her superstitious nature.
Moonstruck: An Emotionally Distraught Family
Her parents (Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis) suspect that she is playing a dangerous game while her fiancé is out of the country visiting his mother. In addition to Loretta’s dangerous secret, they also deal with their own marital problems that threaten to destroy the entire family. Angry, stressed, and confused, the Castorinis and Cammareris eventually work together to get themselves out of the various crises.
In addition to powerful performances and an enchanting story, Moonstruck includes wonderful dialogue such as Ronny’s lament when Loretta refuses to marry him instead of his brother. “We aren’t here to make things perfect,” he says. “We’re here to ruin ourselves, break our hearts, and love the wrong people.”
Well, there’s certainly a lot of that going on in this fabulous romantic comedy about love, luck, and family.
- Moonstruck (Deluxe Edition 2006)
- Director: Norman Jewison
- Run Time: 102 minutes
- Rating: PG
- DVD Bonus Features: Three featurettes about the making of Moonstruck, the music in the film, and a tour of Little Italy’s restaurants; Audio Commentary with Cher, Norman Jewison, and John Patrick Shanley.
For more information about AFI’s top 10 romantic comedy selections, read Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday.
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