Loretta Castorini (Cher) is engaged to her longtime boyfriend Johnny Cammareri (Danny Aiello), but then has to leave for Italy to tend to his ailing mother. With Johnny absent, Loretta starts dating his hot tempered brother Ronny (Nicolas Cage). Aside from that a taboo relationship runs rampant in Loretta's Italian-American household with the exception of her grandfather and the four dogs if you count them as family.The winner of three Academy Awards and Cher was among one of them. In the finicky world of the Academy Award judges who have had their biases in the past when it came to selecting those they feel deserve Oscar recognition, the committee seemed to have twenty smiles on their faces for a film like this one that could've been easily snubbed by today's standards. I guess they liked the idea that "Moonstruck" was saturated with Italian characters that are not linked to any underworld associations. It also seems that the average age group of characters featured in here seems to be over the age of 60. Elder performers in supporting roles seems like a rarity when the movie industry caters more towards younger performers getting more exposure. This is one contributing factor why this movie stands out.The women characters Loretta and her mother Rose (Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis) are the true leaders in their respected households and in their respected relationships. It also helps that the performers are not strangers to one another so non-verbal poses are all the more effective and the dialogue within them run smoothly.Even though this movie may have given Cher tons of accolades in her performance, it didn't transform into a megastar here. Her break came with the 1985 film "Mask" which she was badly snubbed by the Oscars. Cher must've had a ten foot smile when she read the script and would've been payed cheap to play this role, let alone winning an Academy Award for her role.The real breakout star here is Nicolas Cage. Along with "Raising Arizona" which came out in 1987 as well, truly shows that Cage's specialty is his knack for comedy. His comic timing is spot on and his widened eyes are effective, we see his gift displayed in these types of films. And sure he still continues making lousy action flicks, it's comedy that really exhibits the actor that Cage is and what he could accomplish.Some of the best scenes in "Moonstruck" involve around Ronny Cammareri. When Loretta interrogates Ronny about his estranged relationship with his brother, Ronny relinquishes an unexpected emotional outburst. Later we see Ronny buttoned up for the opera a sign where romance is more welcomed than reality.The opera is a form of acting where the voice is the centerpiece of the theatre than the action. It's like giving skilled artisans colouring pencils and activity books and to tell them they can't surpass the segregated lines like the book tells them to. Cage's acting never goes outside the lines once here.The subject of infidelity comes across frequently here in "Moonstruck". The uneven account about the infidelity depicted here is that Loretta can get away with it is for her love for Ronny than she is to Johnny. But Rose's husband and Loretta's father Cosmo (Vincent Gardenia) was questioned with non-approval after quietly being with another woman behind her back even though there was never any signs of engaging in intercourse. But Rose still loves Cosmo and their loyalty to each other is what really matters. This is cleverly crafted romantic story with a great cast and an excellent script.

Moonstruck is good entertainment that fits the bill as a movie for various ages and tastes. The sexual indiscretions are treated with humour. The Italian neighbourhood in New York where the movie is set is more like an urban village. One amusing scene shows Loretta played by Cher, as a 37 year-old widow and daughter of an Italian family, as she makes her confession to the parish priest, who speaks to her on a first name basis. Then she runs into her mother, Rose, played by Olympia Dukakis, praying in church. This typifies the close society of her neighbourhood where the restaurants, churches, delis and corner groceries are meeting places for neighbours and family. The locale is New York City near the Metropolitan Opera, which enters the story when Loretta and her new boyfriend, played by Nicholas Cage, go on a date. Coincidentally, they happen to spot her father, Cosmo, played by Vince Gardenia, with a girlfriend. Loretta has become engaged to Johnny, performed by Danny Aiello, who she fears will find out about her new boyfriend after his return from Italy. The new boyfriend also happens to be the brother of her fiancé. Things seem to unravel and then be resolved for the family, friends and neighbours under the influence of a full moon. Nicholas Cage and Cher seem to be made for each other in this movie as the still young widow and the hard-luck, angry butcher. It is in fact a group of people who have all seen their share of tragedy, success, and strained family relationships. Good luck and good sense does not always win the day. Yet, the movie is full of heart and is something of a lesson on how to put egos aside and let our best instincts work things out. Norman Jewison directed this delightful movie. Recommend.

if i had to pick 2 films that i could only see for the rest of my life, this would be number one. number two would be All About Eve. i watch Moonstruck every time i run across it on TV. the writing is AMAZING, so many zingers AND memorable heartfelt real moments and the characters are so well written. the casting is perfect down to every last role - especially olympia dukakis and the great julie bovasso, who is such a wonderful new york character actress (i.e. john travolta's mother in Saturday night fever). sadly she is no longer with us. trivia note: she was known as an excellent voice coach for people who have to do NY accents.everything i've said above (save for the actors of course) can be applied to All ABout Eve!

I remember going to the movies with my mom in Queens around Easter weekend when I was 13 years old to watch this wonderful film! At first, I was wondering if this was going to be just another sappy romantic movie but then I had some of the biggest laughs plus being mesmerized by the La Boheme score that was playing (Tebaldi/Bergonzi/Bastianini/Serafin on London DECCA. I left the theater that night hearing the La Boheme score swelling in my head! It was because of Moonstruck that I fell in love with Boheme and Opera itself and eventually decided to sing opera myself. Cher truly gave the performance of her life as Loretta Castorini. She really showed me a new dimension of not only her acting craft but also her personality. I don't think she has since given such a fine, funny and truly endearing performance. I love how she initially hides behind a no-nonsense rock of strength persona only to slowly have that unravel to show the audience a vulnerable woman who just wants to love and be loved. Olympia and Vincent were both superb as Loretta's parents. Nick Cage shows us a preview of his acting chops and how he worked hard to make success happen for himself without relying on his family's popular name: Coppola to become famous!Julie Bovasso and Louis Guss were wonderful as Loretta's aunt and uncle. Feodor was brilliant as Loretta's grandfather and of course there's Danny Aiello as Johnny, Loretta's safe but boring fiancée. His character came close to home for me. It was also funny to see "Peggy Hitler" the mean cookie lady who beat up Ray Romano in an Everybody Loves Raymond episode AKA Amy Aquino playing one of the hair dressers in the beauty salon in a tiny part and several others.Moonstruck truly has many of the elements of a Puccini opera romance, comedy, and tragedy to some degree. This was New York City at its finest...at a time when I remember her to not be without problems but still has a certain charm and inviting allure despite her difficulties which has since been lost primarily after 9/11.(Haunting to watch scenes of the World Trade Center from Brooklyn) I personally am so glad this movie was made when it was and with the cast which was chosen. I miss you New York City 1986-87. "alla familigia!"