Moonstruck (1987)

"Moonstruck" (1987) movie poster

This is an awfully cute movie and it is hilarious as well. The script, written by John Patrick Shanley, is romantic, but not cheesy.

Loretta Castorini (Cher) is a widowed bookkeeper. Her husband was the love of her life, but after he died, she refused to fall in love again. When her current boyfriend Johnny (Danny Aiello) proposes she says yes, mainly because it's the practical thing to do. Johnny heads to Italy to take care of his ailing mother, but asks Loretta to invite his estranged brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage) to the wedding.

She tracks Ronny down and since he is insufferable and they do not see eye to eye, she ends up sleeping with him.

Nicolas Cage and Cher in a scene from "Moonstruck"

Loretta feels guilty and refuses to see Ronny again, but Ronny has fallen for Loretta and is determined to win her over. When Loretta continues to refuse his advances Ronny invites her to the opera saying he will happy having the two things he loves the most in one night.

Loretta gets ready and goes to the opera, but while there she sees her father with his mistress. The resolution to the film is is quick to come after this, and of course it has a happy ending for everyone.

The main thing that stands out here is the acting. Everyone does a great job with their roles. I have only seen Cher act in "Burlesque" and that was such an awful film that I don't even remember how her acting was, but in this she's great as is Nicolas Cage. I don't know what happened to him since this film, but this shows he had the acting ability.