Deliriously romantic comedy with intertwining subplots that mesh beautifully and actors who bounce lines off each other with precise comic timing, a feat that is beautiful to behold. When Cher's spineless fiancé asks her to help him make peace with his estranged, moody younger brother, no one could dream the consequences which follow. Operatic symbolism, Catholic church confessions, love bites and falling snow..."Moonstruck" is timeless and smooth. It takes about 15 minutes for the picture's rhythm to kick in (there's an early sequence with the grandfather and his dogs at the cemetery that's a little rough, and a following scene with Cosmo and the elderly man at the gate that seems obtuse),but the patchwork of the plot is interwoven with nimble skill, and the movie's wobbly tone and kooky spirit are both infectious. ***1/2 from ****

I'm sure a pretty penny mst have been paid to Paramount by MGM/UA for the rights to That's Amore. Both sung over the beginning and end credits of Moonstruck, the song beautifully frames the entire film.

Seeeing it when it first came out and again 33 years later Moonstruck is as fresh as when it first came out. It could be made again today because the characters created are timeless. Writer John Martin Shanley learned his Brooklyn well for his Oscar winning original screenplay. What you see albeit with some supplementary footage from Toronto is the Italian neighborhood of Carroll Gardens and a real Cammareri Bakery. Sadly it went out of business and Carroll Gardens is now gentrfied a whole lot.

It should be a happy day for the Cammereris and Castorinis. Danny Aiello the older Cammereri brother has proposed marriage has proposed marriage to Cher the only child of the Castorinis, Vincent Gardenia and Olympia Dukakis. But Aiello has to go back to the old country and vist Mama. But he wants to have Cher invite his brother Nicholas Cage to the wedding. There's been some bad blood between the brothers, but Aiello hopes things will be straightened out.

As the That's Amore goes when the moon hits your eye crazy things start happening. Cher and Cage discover their attraction and both Gardenia and Dukakis have memorable nights with other people Anita Gillette andJohn Mahoney. But the family comes together when all's said and done.

In addition to Best Original Screenplay Moonstruck gave career roles for Cher and Olympia Dukakis and Oscars fpr Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. It's a deserved classic.

Best seen in Autumn under that big harvest moon. Why? Cause That's Amore.

Loretta Castorini (Cher) is a reserved 37 year old bookkeeper who was widowed years earlier. Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello) is nice guy who she bosses around. She doesn't really love him. She believes that her first marriage was cursed and she wants to do the wedding right this time. Her father (Vincent Gardenia) thinks her marriage will be cursed, and her mother (Olympia Dukakis) is glad that she doesn't love him. They invite Ronny Cammareri (Nicolas Cage) who is Johnny's younger brother estranged from him for the last five years. Ronny works at the neighborhood bakery and is wildly passionately tormented blaming his brother for losing his hand. He sets off an intense love affair that threatens to open Loretta's dormant heart.

It's a light quirky Norman Jewison film. The characters are Italian stereotypes. None of it is mean-spirited. It's all fun and light-hearted. Everybody is very charming. I like Cher playing an understated character for her. She has great chemistry with Cage. There is an inherit likability about everybody in this movie. The wild romanticism is hilarious and it's a very sweet odd romantic comedy.