A Funny, Lovely, Sad, Romantic Comedy
Added 8/9/2009
This is one of my favorite movies! I have owned & watched it on VHS over 50 times, & when it became available on DVD, I quickly snatched it up. I'm sure the movie is enjoyable to all who give it a try, however, it is much more moving to me being spanish. From my perspective I can understand some of the struggles that the characters are going through. The music, the culture, it is all done very beautifully, despite not having many spanish actors. The ending to me is very sad & tragic & that's what makes the movie so memorable. I was very moved by the role that Alfred Molina played. He was AWESOME!! His struggle to want to reunite with his wife is very moving. Equally as moving was Angelica Houston's portrayal of Carmela. Her pain was very heartfelt. This movie is a must see. It grows on you even more as time goes by.
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Perez Family
Added 5/28/2009
As a fan of director, Mira Nair, I really looked forward to seeing this movie with a unique story line. While it was interesting, I did not feel the material met her previous high levels of expertise, and felt a little campy and overdone here and there. I thought most of the acting was well done, especially Angelica Huston, and Alfred Molina, and Chazz Palminteri. I am also a huge fan of Marissa Tomei, but was disappointed in her role her. She played her character in such an exaggerated manner that it almost felt cartoonish, although I felt she improved as the movie progressed. Her Cuban enthusiasm and zest for life felt overdone, overplayed, which detracted from the essential drama of the refugee story being told. I also felt the costuming could have been more realistic, more appropriate to the income level of the people portrayed. (MT's sugar cane costume was over the top!! a caricature!) Lots of plusses, but a few too many minuses. It falls far short of being great.
Pru McDonald
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The Search for the Meaning of Family
Added 3/4/2009
This 1995 romantic comedy has gotten a second-life through the DVD release; it was a box-office failure for The Samuel Goldwyn Company, it made around [...] which was nowhere near covering the [...] production cost.
Based on a 1991 novel of the same name by author Christine Bell, the backdrop is the 1980 Mariel boatlift and the quest for a new life, a new beginning....but with a twist, which entails the last name, "Perez." Alfred Molina portrays a former Cuban aristocrat/political prisoner - Juan Raul Perez - who has just been freed from jail. He has one goal; making it to America to find his wife (portrayed by Anjelica Huston) and daughter. But on the same boat is Dottie Perez - played by Marisa Tomei - who is trying to make it back from the wrong side of the tracks.
And the hijinks kicks into gear when an official for U.S. Immigration believes they- Juan and Dottie - are married, which sets in motion a number of events where the "Perez Family" takes on a whole new meaning. With wit and a play on the politics of the time, director Mira Nair delivers a well-paced movie where romance takes a unique twist for those who truly value living life (with personal freedom) to the fullest each day.
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Cute movie
Added 1/16/2008
Very entertaining story about a Hispanic family and what happens to them when they come from Cuba to Florida. A little gooey but good performances.
Angelica Huston is great and the other actors are good, too.
Worth the price of a rental or buying the DVD.
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I love this Movie
Added 8/8/2007
Marissa Tomei does a wonderful acting job in this movie that has such great music. I have the Music CD also.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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A Funny, Lovely, Sad, Romantic Comedy
Added 8/9/2009
This is one of my favorite movies! I have owned & watched it on VHS over 50 times, & when it became available on DVD, I quickly snatched it up. I'm sure the movie is enjoyable to all who give it a try, however, it is much more moving to me being spanish. From my perspective I can understand some of the struggles that the characters are going through. The music, the culture, it is all done very beautifully, despite not having many spanish actors. The ending to me is very sad & tragic & that's what makes the movie so memorable. I was very moved by the role that Alfred Molina played. He was AWESOME!! His struggle to want to reunite with his wife is very moving. Equally as moving was Angelica Houston's portrayal of Carmela. Her pain was very heartfelt. This movie is a must see. It grows on you even more as time goes by.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Perez Family
Added 5/28/2009
As a fan of director, Mira Nair, I really looked forward to seeing this movie with a unique story line. While it was interesting, I did not feel the material met her previous high levels of expertise, and felt a little campy and overdone here and there. I thought most of the acting was well done, especially Angelica Huston, and Alfred Molina, and Chazz Palminteri. I am also a huge fan of Marissa Tomei, but was disappointed in her role her. She played her character in such an exaggerated manner that it almost felt cartoonish, although I felt she improved as the movie progressed. Her Cuban enthusiasm and zest for life felt overdone, overplayed, which detracted from the essential drama of the refugee story being told. I also felt the costuming could have been more realistic, more appropriate to the income level of the people portrayed. (MT's sugar cane costume was over the top!! a caricature!) Lots of plusses, but a few too many minuses. It falls far short of being great.
Pru McDonald
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
The Search for the Meaning of Family
Added 3/4/2009
This 1995 romantic comedy has gotten a second-life through the DVD release; it was a box-office failure for The Samuel Goldwyn Company, it made around [...] which was nowhere near covering the [...] production cost.
Based on a 1991 novel of the same name by author Christine Bell, the backdrop is the 1980 Mariel boatlift and the quest for a new life, a new beginning....but with a twist, which entails the last name, "Perez." Alfred Molina portrays a former Cuban aristocrat/political prisoner - Juan Raul Perez - who has just been freed from jail. He has one goal; making it to America to find his wife (portrayed by Anjelica Huston) and daughter. But on the same boat is Dottie Perez - played by Marisa Tomei - who is trying to make it back from the wrong side of the tracks.
And the hijinks kicks into gear when an official for U.S. Immigration believes they- Juan and Dottie - are married, which sets in motion a number of events where the "Perez Family" takes on a whole new meaning. With wit and a play on the politics of the time, director Mira Nair delivers a well-paced movie where romance takes a unique twist for those who truly value living life (with personal freedom) to the fullest each day.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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