Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia

A levelheaded young woman falls in love with her fiance's brother in a Brooklyn Italian-American neighborhood.

Flixster Users

79% liked it

38,033 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

35 critics

PG, 102 min.

Directed by: Norman Jewison

Release Date: December 18, 1987

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DVD Release Date: June 30, 1998

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Stats: 1,940 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,940)


  • November 10, 2009
    Such a crazy family! Cher was awesome in this movie, and Olympia Dukakis is always adorable. It was pretty funny!
  • May 17, 2009
    I enjoyed this one more than I expected to. Cher is unquestionably the star here but it is Olympia Dukakis that, for me, really makes the whole thing work. A nice, romantic, ethnic comedy.
  • April 11, 2009
    Especially fantastic performances from Cher and Nicolas Cage. Definitely an 80s film!
  • September 10, 2008
    When Cher and Nic were talking about wolves without foots and brides without heads and they kiss and he carries her off to bed, I was thinking "What the hell?!" I didn't get it. Anyways... La Boheme the opera keeps on being referenced and the Bohemian notions of love surely mak...( read more)e for common themes, but it is a character unexpectedly living at the end that makes things turn out alright. The moon also stirs the emotions repeatedly, which no one should be surprised by with the title. "Why do men chase women?" "But why would a man need more than one woman?" These are the questions asked by Olympia Dukakis as Loretta's mother Rose, which I really think this movie tries to address. Also the discussion between Loretta and Ronny about being in control of one's life and love not being like it is in the storybooks was really important.

    I want to talk about the relationships. The Grandfather has lost his wife and now gives all his attention to his dogs. Cher's uncle (Raymond) and his wife (Rita) get horny from the full moon, so you see a faithful couple. Cher's father (Cosmo) has been going out on dates with another woman (Mona) who is more exciting, but is eventually caught at the opera (a highly stylized metaphor for sex). Cher's mother, feeling lonely, goes out to dinner by herself and meets an immature ass-hole having a midlife crisis (Perry) played very well by John Mahoney. Except maybe he isn't so bad, at least she can talk to him and explore these questions she has, but she will not make a foolish mistake and get physical with him. Cher becomes engaged to Johnny (who she doesn't really love) who is a momma's boy and pretty childish despite his big strong appearance. Cher is dangerously attracted to Ronny (Johnny's brother) who makes her question her carefully planned marriage of convenience. He makes her feel alive. So as the whole family starts to gather around the breakfast table at the end, we wonder if Cher's parents can put their relationship back together and how Johnny will react to the news that his fiance has fallen in love with his brother. Turns out Johnny doesn't want to get married since his mother has recovered and Ronny is able to propose. The clincher, the best joke in the movie is after this moment when Grandfather starts crying and when asked why says, "I'm confused!"
  • May 12, 2008
    Cher looked beautiful in this movie, Cage was weirdly hot with the way he spoke to her and I all but fell inlove with Danny Aiello...really dug this movie
  • November 15, 2009
    I love this movie. I hadn't originally thought of it, because I had watched it once a year ago. But,once I bought it I realize how wonderful it is. Cher is a great singer and actor and was gorgeous in this movie,and Nicolas Cage was really cute. They are both excellant actors....( read more) Other great performances were Olympia Dukakais,Vincent Gardinia,and Danny Aiello. Just a really good movie. :)
  • November 12, 2009
    An absurd comedy that is probably going to be enjoyed more by your grandmother than you. I think this movie could have been better if it didn't perpetuate the Italian stereotype and told the story in an all American tale. This movie is really slow to start with, making it hard wo...( read more)rk to get to the half way point, but once it gets to this point it becomes rather witty and somewhat lovable.
  • October 27, 2009
    Best Movie ever!! <3
  • October 19, 2009
    Unexpected surprise.
  • October 8, 2009
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Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Reviews of the movie tend to make it sound like a madcap ethnic comedy, and that it is. But there is something more here, a certain bittersweet yearning that comes across as ineffably romantic, and a ... full review

View more Moonstruck reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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