The Perez Family

Rating:
Summary: A sexy, energetic, lighthearted, romantic comedy. Loved it!
Review: Dottie Perez (Marisa Tomei) shines in this highly entertaining film. Both Juan Perez (Alfred Molina) and Dottie (strangers to one another) leave Cuba in a boatlift to come to the USA. Though they have separate agendas, they both become entangled in a creative plot that would convince immigration to boost their names to the top of the list for families to be sponsored. In the meantime, Juan searches for his wife and child who he hasn't seen for 20 years. Dottie, on the other hand, floats around with naivety about life in the Americas. Unaware that her beloved movie star is dead, she lights up with the anticipation of finally seeing John Wayne after she spots a sign for Hollywood some miles away. I was almost rolling on the floor when both Dottie and Juan realized the status of Elvis Presley and John Wayne.

I like that the film catches sincere moments; for instance, we see Tomei heating up the screen in her sexy dresses and unshaved underarm, and Juan even expresses that he's been in prison so long, his teeth are no good to kiss his beloved wife. All the characters add warmth and humor to this highly charged movie. Definitely a keeper. Don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: A sexy, energetic, lighthearted, romantic comedy. Loved it!
Review: Dottie Perez (Marisa Tomei) shines in this highly entertaining film. Both Juan Perez (Alfred Molina) and Dottie (strangers to one another) leave Cuba in a boatlift to come to the USA. Though they have separate agendas, they both become entangled in a creative plot that would convince immigration to boost their names to the top of the list for families to be sponsored. In the meantime, Juan searches for his wife and child who he hasn't seen for 20 years. Dottie, on the other hand, floats around with naivety about life in the Americas. Unaware that her beloved movie star is dead, she lights up with the anticipation of finally seeing John Wayne after she spots a sign for Hollywood some miles away. I was almost rolling on the floor when both Dottie and Juan realized the status of Elvis Presley and John Wayne.

I like that the film catches sincere moments; for instance, we see Tomei heating up the screen in her sexy dresses and unshaved underarm, and Juan even expresses that he's been in prison so long, his teeth are no good to kiss his beloved wife. All the characters add warmth and humor to this highly charged movie. Definitely a keeper. Don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Movie By Mira Nair!
Review: It's a shame this movie never did very well at the box office, because it's a movie with great performances by Marisa Tomei and Alfred Molina. It's also directed by one of the least recognized and gifted directors of our time, Mira Nair.

Nair is best known for movies dealing with Indian culture like "Mississippi Masala" and last year's "Monsoon Wedding," but here she strays from her normal interests and makes a movie about Cubans who come to the United States seeking political asylum. Specifically, the movie centers around Dottie Perez (Tomei) and Juan Raul Perez (Molina), who are of no relation to each other except for the fact that they come to the United States with a heart full of dreams which are quickly shattered. Dottie is smitten by John Wayne and comes with the hopes of someday sleeping with him. Juan was incarcerated in a Cuban prison for 20 years and comes hoping to find the wife and daughter he has not seen in that time. They both come to Miami on the same boat, and circumstances force them to act as if they were a "family". This arrangement soon becomes more than just a strategic plan, as they quickly develop romantic feelings for each other.

The acting in this movie is surprisingly good. I had gotten so used to seeing Marisa Tomei doing her New York accent in "My Cousin Vinny" that I didn't think she'd be able to be convincing as a Cuban refugee. I was pleasantly surprised. Alfred Molina was also very good, and so was Anjelica Huston who played his estranged wife. I also thought the movie had a great musical score.

I would have given this movie five stars if it wasn't for the fact that I wasn't really satisfied with the way the movie ended. Though I won't give away the ending, I'll say that it was entirely too simplistic. Though, that's just a minor flaw. This movie is definitely worth watching.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most enjoyable movies I have seen!
Review: Marisa Tomei does a fantastic job on this one. This is a must see. I was surprised to note that this was another Mira Nair (of Monsoon Wedding fame) film. She weaves a sensitive and delicate plot with fire and passion and humor.

Rating:
Summary: Hidden Belly Laughs, Sexy inuendos
Review: Presents the lighter side of a tragic family seperated by politics and the resulting misunderstandings that occur quite innocently. Sizzling performance by Ms. Tomei who seems unaware of her assets as a new arrival here. Need to see it several times to catch all the plot lines.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most enjoyable movies I have seen!
Review: Rarely does a film move me to actual expressions of emotion, but this one did. The conditions under which the Cuban immigrants lived in this film broke my heart. Alfred Molina and Marisa Tomei were excellent in their portrayals of Cuban immigrants who were simply trying to flee oppression and make better lives for themselves. (I must confess, I didn't have much respect for Marisa Tomei as an actress until I saw her in this film.) There is one scene in particular that I found to be especially heartwrenching: Tomei's character, freshly arrived from Cuba and still living in a refugee facility, meets a police officer. The man takes an interest in her and asks her out on a date. Feeling excited and elated, she accepts, believing the man to be a decent man who will treat her well. On the night of the date, however, the man tries to force himself on her, even offering her money. She manages to get away from him and flees his apartment, in tears.
There are moments of tragedy and triumph in this film. You will laugh and cry many times before the final credits roll. (For example, I laughed out loud at the "grandfather" who repeatedly continued to wander off in the nude.) Anyone who appreciates a finely crafted film that will make them think should watch this film.
My only complaint is that the ending seemed a bit too "Hollywood" for my taste. But that is a minor point. We all need a dose of "happily ever after" every now and then, I suppose.

My applause to all those who were involved in the making of this film. The DVD, which has thankfully been released now, has been made a permanent part of my film library.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Cast, Brilliant Acting!
Review: Rarely does a film move me to actual expressions of emotion, but this one did. The conditions under which the Cuban immigrants lived in this film broke my heart. Alfred Molina and Marisa Tomei were excellent in their portrayals of Cuban immigrants who were simply trying to flee oppression and make better lives for themselves. (I must confess, I didn't have much respect for Marisa Tomei as an actress until I saw her in this film.) There is one scene in particular that I found to be especially heartwrenching: Tomei's character, freshly arrived from Cuba and still living in a refugee facility, meets a police officer. The man takes an interest in her and asks her out on a date. Feeling excited and elated, she accepts, believing the man to be a decent man who will treat her well. On the night of the date, however, the man tries to force himself on her, even offering her money. She manages to get away from him and flees his apartment, in tears.
There are moments of tragedy and triumph in this film. You will laugh and cry many times before the final credits roll. (For example, I laughed out loud at the "grandfather" who repeatedly continued to wander off in the nude.) Anyone who appreciates a finely crafted film that will make them think should watch this film.
My only complaint is that the ending seemed a bit too "Hollywood" for my taste. But that is a minor point. We all need a dose of "happily ever after" every now and then, I suppose.

My applause to all those who were involved in the making of this film. The DVD, which has thankfully been released now, has been made a permanent part of my film library.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the DVD
Review: Thisis a wonderful funny love story about cuban refugees, however, since the players are american actors, we have to take our hats off to them. Marisa Tomei is funny, touching, and very much a "cuban" in this movie, she must to really done her homework, Alfred Molina, as usual, the greatest actor without recognition, how can this handsome man, and excelent actor not be mentioned more and more and only do secondary roles? Anjelica Houston shows another side of her in this funny acting also, a very attractive Anjelica Houston and so is Chaz Molinari in this short but very good "hombre enamorado" (man in love) role. The acting was very very good of everybody involved, Marisa I repeat, magnificent, Molina his usual same, excelent, I really recommend this movie for romantic people! I would give 100 stars to this movie.