This was a heartwarming, but predictable romantic comedy. I do not understand though why it got the first 2 out of this 3 Oscars: Cher for best actress, the screenwriter and Olympia Dukakis for best actress in a supporting role. Ms. Dukakis deserved it though, she was very human. Throughout the movie I thought how much it reminds me of my “Big Fat Greek Wedding”, although in Italian family setting. And that aspect connected it to “Return to Me”.
It was only after the movie was over that I realized that both of these movies were made 15 years after Moonstruck, so the “borrowing” of ideas might have been in the other direction. Cher accepts a the marriage proposal by a man, because she doesn’t find any better and belives she has bad luck. But while his fiancee is visiting his ailing mother in Italy she falls for his younger brother, played by the 25 year old Nicholas Cage. Appearently the scene Cher enjoyed the best was the one at the opera, at the Met. And that’s the one where she is the most plastic. Her face, “do” and actions. Despite how annoyed I was by her (lack of) acting this movie was funny enough that I laughed out loud several times, which is unusual for me. That in itself deserves praise.