Product: Moonstruck (1987)
Rating: 4.0
Light Hearted Pizza Pie of a Movie
After enduring years of belly-button jokes and being passed over for superb acting chops in films like "Mask" and "Silkwood" Cher achieves a remarkable transformation in this sweet family film, in the process earning a Best Actress Oscar. As Loretta, she shines in every scene she appears in, delivering her lines with an "eye-talian" sensibility that's fresh, funny and inspired. Olympia Dukakis is equally fine as her mother, and also copped an Oscar for Supporting Actress. There are some moments of sero-comedy bliss here, especially scenes with the magnificent Danny Aiello and the late great Vincent Gardenia. Only Nicholas Cage dissapoints, breathing little empathy into his character, and delivering his lines without the rich gusto that's required. Still, "Moonstruck" is worth its weight in gold as a romantic comedy for the ages. Now - if only Cher could replicate its success, she'd truly become a film legend!