...especially since the first billed is Freddie Prinze Jr.I was at my friendly neighbourhood DVD retailer and saw this on sale for two bucks. I like Alec Baldwin so I thought Id give it a go.The premise itself isn't terribly original - Its a coming of age type story meets a mild Goodfellas - but aside from the occasional eye-rolling moment it is well acted and beautifully shot.Alec Baldwin is great as Ceasar and appropriately over the top. Freddie Prinze Jr, Jerry Ferrara and Scott Caan all do fine jobs as well.Again, its nothing we haven't seen before, but its definitely worth the two bucks and certainly respectable enough to add to your DVD collection.

I have to say I was presently surprised by this little film, I expected way less then I got. That's not to say that this is a fantastic film but it's a good one. It does a great job of representing a believable friendship between it's three main characters. I once again have to gripe of the pointless and sub par acted female character who is injected for the point of having one and doesn't add much to the film. Alec Baldwin is great as he usually is, and the three main characters are both well acted and believable unlike their accents but that's not important here. The story may be filled with a few clichés but the friendship of the characters make it work well enough to pull you into the story, not immerse you in it but keep your interest. I don't want to say Freddie Prinze was amazing but he was rather good, I wish he would lean more into films like this and stay away from any romantic comedy/dramas for a little while, play a villain or something, I do believe he has the talent it's just that he gets type cast in those romantic roles. Anyway, the film was surprisingly good, as was the story and the acting. Don't expect the Sopranos, Goodfellas and definitely not The Godfather and you won't be disappointed.

If you enjoy any of the (non-comedic) 'coming-of-age' movies that have come out since the mid-eighties (with Stand By Me in 1986)...Also, any Alec Baldwin fans must see this. Although I really don't feel Alec was in nearly enough scenes and could have substantially helped this movie considerably by his presence with 'the boys'...Even if he'd been superimposed as a ghost that 'somehow influenced their decisions'...The acting (or maybe casting) of the main characters was a lil' sketchy from tie to time, in my opinion and left e feeling somewhat like 'hey, I'm watching a movie'...which is distracting, as it's a sign of quality when you are 'only able' to stay immersed in the story being told and literally 'forget' you are watching a movie...I even found myself 'taking a couple of breaks (to let the cat out, take a pee, get a drink, etc, etc.) during some of the slower 'connecting' scenes...And I'm sure you know what I mean...The sign of a really well-done film, is when you literally 'can't take your eyes off the screen', allowing any normal distractions to go completely unnoticed (or when the distraction is too much, you flip out and extinguish whatever -or whoever- is the cause of the distraction)...That's a great movie and although this one doesn't fall into that category, it's still one that shouldn't be missed...Overlook the small 'blips' in the acting (it really does get a little awkward -and forced- in a few scenes) and the 'non-emotion' in a few scenes (when there should be a great deal of tear-jerking emotion)...And, as previously stated, the 'under-use' of Alec Baldwin in scenes where he could have definitely been utilized in some creative (and often obvious) ways, which would have really contributed to the overall 'effectiveness' of the story trying to 'get-told'...Otherwise, it's a decent attempt and still stands as (yet another) must-see coming-of-age movies...In easier terms...put it on your 'list-o'-flicks' and when the movie you wanted to see isn't available, grab a copy of this instead...it's pretty much guaranteed to be in-stock...and you won't feel like it was a wasted trip to the 'get a movie place' after you've seen it...Just don't feel like you are incapable of emotion, when you think you should be 'upset over this' or whatever...It's not you, it's the film...

"Brooklyn Rules" is a ho-hum "Goodfellas" knock-off about three lifelong buddies (Freddie Prinze Jr., Scott Caan and Jerry Ferrara) and their involvement with the mafia. After a brief prologue set in 1974, the film moves quickly ahead to1985, where Mikey, Carmine and Bobby, now in their 20's, are attempting to make their way in a world where a mob boss by the name of Caesar Manganaro (Alec Baldwin), rules the streets with an iron fist. Mikey, the film's narrator, is the one most torn between loyalty to the neighborhood and his pals and a desire to experience life beyond this old familiar corner of Brooklyn. Carmine is the hard-nosed tough guy who wants nothing more than to be a card-carrying member of the Manganaro clan.Written by Terence Winter and directed by Michael Corrente, the film indulges in just about every mob-movie cliché one could possibly imagine, topped off by corny narration and banal wise-guy dialogue done in barely comprehensible dese-dem-dose accents. The movie earns a few points for at least trying to create a morally complex character in Mikey (though heavily borrowed from Michael Corleone), but the clichéd storytelling, lackluster performances and dull writing rob the film of most of its impact. There's a decided lack of energy and urgency in the direction as well, making "Brooklyn Rules" a very minor addition to the mob movie genre indeed.