Moonstruck quad poster

“We aren’t here to make things perfect. The snowflakes are perfect. The stars are perfect. Not us. Not us! We are here to ruin ourselves and to break our hearts and love the wrong people and die.”

Ronny Cammareri

Moonstruck is considered a classic by some, perhaps through the verisimilitude with which John Patrick Shanley’s script presents Italian American relationships and flaunts the stereotypical romcom formula (its ridiculous ending notwithstanding). The film rests comfortably on Cher’s shoulders as the connecting glue between the story threads. Her unexpected attraction to her fiance’s brother is mirrored by parallel views of infidelity from differing perspectives. The offbeat performances in Nicolas Cage’s early career have been compared to jazz, slightly out of sync with his fellow actors in a way that conjures an unpredictable, dangerous energy around Ronny. Cher’s confidence is evident in allowing Cage to dominate his introductory scene in particular. The exploration of the older generation is gentler, with Olympia Dukakis’ sad, searching performance deservedly earning an Oscar. On the other hand, an older professor’s frequent dalliances with his students seems more predatory by modern standards. Ultimately this is a theme: the film remains pleasantly entertaining but time has eroded a sense of freshness it may have had when released.

7/10