Moonstruck Movie Review

Moonstruck (1987)

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Written by: John Patrick Shanley
Directed by: Norman Jewison
Starring: Cher, Nicolas Cage, Olympia Dukakis, Danny Aiello
Rated: PG

Plot
Loretta Castorini, a book keeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she has agreed to marry.

Verdict
This explores love and relationships with characters that felt real. It's incredibly funny and heartfelt, but not afraid to confront serious themes through the characters. Each character has an arc, with their stories intertwining. This subverts the typical rom-com pattern we so often see.
Watch it.

Review
Loretta agrees to a marriage of convenience. She likes Johnny well enough, and after her first husband died it's understandable she'd be wary to love again. She loved and lost.

The impetus for the whole thing is that Johnny is afraid to face his brother Ronny. Johnny asks Loretta to invite him to the wedding. Ronny was maimed in an accident he blames on Johnny. Loretta falls for Ronny, someone who's almost as miserable in life as she is.  Ronny has no qualms pursuing his brother's woman. He never claims to be good. While Loretta is conflicted, she agrees to go on a date with Ronny. Ronny knew what he was doing, and she had to have known too. While she was content enter a passionless marriage, now she's found someone she really likes.

There's a parallel between Loretta and both her parents, each of them in a different kind of relationship. Her father is having and affair, and her mom has  the chance.
Loretta's mom claims men chase women because they fear death. When she's later invited back to a room by a man who isn't her husband, she refuses stating she knows who she is. Maybe that's why men chase women. They're either trying to figure out who they are or hide it. We see a professor attempt to date younger women. He may be trying to cheat his age.

This reminded me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), read my review, just that it felt like real people rather than caricatures. We delve into their homes, and when we see them at the table it feels like the conversations are based on something that did or could happen.

I like the ending. Johnny breaks up with Loretta and she's mad he broke it off despite the face she likes his brother more. This has a happy ending and earns it.