The "movie aimed at adults" is a rare thing these days, but Moonstruck does it well, and is still a better than average movie, which is aging very well. Although it's comic moments aim lower than the rest of it, the movie has a wonderful specificity (Italians in Brooklyn) that isn't used to shortchange the characters or the viewers. (i.e. Mobsters never appear in acomplication. It never becomes grotesque like My Big Fat Greek Wedding) The secondary story lines are economically told with short scenes that allow a break from the major thread. These are the scenes that are now missing in contemporary movies where their immediate value cannot be impressed upon producers and bigwigs. I miss these scenes. It also beautifully involves older characters. The movie takes it's own slight, quiet path to a conclusion. There isn't a poorly written scene included anywhere to make some executives sphincter relax. Cage and Cher do very nice work.

Moonstruck invokes old-school, ethnic, workaday New York much like 'Marty' except Moonstruck is way less sanctimonious.

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 ****

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.