Customer Reviews

Love Is All There Is

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Glamourous comic actress Lainie Kazan, Joe Bologna, Paul Sorvino, and brilliant character actress Renee Taylor take you on a 'not just for New Yorkers' joy ride of a romantic comedy which introduced the teenaged Angelina Jolie. It is a Renee Taylor trademark to poke fun at the clash of the lower classes versus the higher classes (a la her contributions to tee vee's The Nanny. No one could tell than she and Fran were *not* related.) and here as Director, co-writer, she is in her element. Unrecognisable is Connie Stevens and Barbara Carrera in platinum hairpieces. The story is essentially Romeo and Juliet without the daggers and the poison but with musings from the so called Patron Saint Roscoe. Kazan is concerned that her husband Joe Bologna cares more for cuddling with the family cat than she: she asks advice from the friendly sooth sayer and neighborhood wacko Renee Taylor who tells her that her son is going to fall deeply for a girl playing Juliet to his Romeo in a school Shakespeare production. Why, this will not and can not be--that Juliet is getting married next week. (Plus she's terrifically over sized.) So when the new family moves in the area has a daughter who happens to know Juliet--well, the jokes and the hilarity comes in one after another. In my opinion, it's just another pleasant way to kill a Sat afternoon. See it for yourself and I think you'll concur.

Being a NY Italian, I loved this movie! Even though it was a bit campy, it still depicted a warped view of Italian culture and it really wasn't far from the truth. I also loved it because I've been to both places used in this film...on City Island and in New Rochelle. I also loved the cast!! Even though Lainie and Renee aren't Italian, they certainly played their roles perfectly. I recommend this movie to anyone, although if you are Italian, you will enjoy it even more.

When I first saw this movie it was by mistake-but-am I glad I did. I was laughing so hard that I had two pillows over my mouth as so I would not wake up my wife and kids ! There are some low foul parts that really didn't have to be in this movie but most of it will keep you in stitches. The Grandmother and many of her comments and questions are priceless. Lainie Kazan was 10 times better in this movie then the Greek Wedding ( She was perfect in her part as the "Past the flower of her life" mother still trying to hold on, her efforts were Oscar worthy ! This is one movie that will really make you laugh. The daughter played by A. Jolean was as always worthless as the son wasn't much either,but is was the parents that made the show. Being born and raised in East Baltimore City and growing up around a lot of ethnic folks ,this picture stays true to the core. It doesen't stereotype the Itailians but paints a real picture of what they are all about !

How can anyone fault this movie? It's sweet, with a wonderful cast. I think Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor wrote one of the funniest scripts, and they're performances are just fabulous! Paul Sorvino and Barbara Carrera went right over the top, with their pretentious "Count & Contessa" characters. I'm buying this movie, and I don't often do that, because it's theme of love and soul searching, combined with some of the funniest deliveries is too good not to watch whenever I need a pick-me-up. By the way, I'm not Italian, nor a New Yorker, but a Californian who appreciates talent and humor. Some of the cynical reviewers of this film could learn something from Lainie Kazan!

you totally have to be italian to understand how funny this movie truly is. ive been an angelina fan for a looong time, and didnt know she could be so hilarious. it takes all the italian steriotypes to the extreme perfectlly. and, having been to several italian weddings, let me tell you--the wedding scene is side-splitting AND disturbingly accurate. anyways, angelina is angelina. good stuff.

This comic reworking of the "Romeo & Juliet" tale set amid Italian weddings will be remembered as Angelina Jolie's first film. Shot in 1994 and released in 1996, "Love Is All There Is" is a fairly funny little romp. Jolie's career of course skyrocketed with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for "Girl Interrupted" in 2000 and went on to "Alexander," "Taking Lives," "Gone in 60 Seconds" & "Beyond Borders." She's set to star next year with Robert DeNiro & Matt Damon in "The Good Shepard." As Gina Malacici, she takes over in the local community theatre production when the fat Juliet falls off the balcony and breaks her leg. TV soap opera star Nathaniel Marston plays Rosario Cappamezza who is the Romeo. Hormones kick into full gear for the two and the final scene in the play where Romeo kisses the dead Juliet turns into a major make-out, leaving the dead Romeo with a giant erection. Joseph Bologna as father Mike is suffiently embarrased as is his wife Sadie played by Lanie Kazan who went on to star in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Bologna also served as co-director for the film with his wife Renee Taylor and had his lone Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for 1970's "Lovers & Other Strangers." Paul Sorvino who played Henry Kissinger in the 1995 film "Nixon" plays Count Malacici who is a rival caterer to Cappamezza's. Thrown into the mix is co-director Renee Taylor who was in the 2004 version of "Alfie" as the nutty psychic Mona who prescribes candle dolls with erections to enhance Mike & Sadie's love life. Nicaraguan/American actress Barbara Carrera who was Fatima Blush in the 1983 James Bond film "Never Say Never Again" plays the mother of the bride, balancing decorum with a vengeful temper. Dick Van Patton and TV's "Hawaiian Eye" Connie Stevens have a silly scene as an older couple having an affair in a parking lot. The late William Hickey whose lone Oscar nomination was for "Prizzi's Honor" and also played in the gay Oliver Twist film "Twisted" is the Monsignor who pontificates lightly over the weddings. "Love Is All There Is" does have its share of laughs and the young lovers appear to spark with good romantic chemistry. All in all, this is a good watching experience. Enjoy!

...Which is the only reason I bought it and watched it. She didn't have much of a part, and it didn't showcase her acting very much--only how beautiful she is and a reaaaaaly long kissing scene that was drawn out and overdone like much of the movie: an attempt to be funny.

I did think "Mona" was quite funny; she reminded me of the town I live in. So much soul-searching yet most of it is hype.

Agree with Allison Kalman's comment.

I didn't laugh a real laugh once in this movie. Then again, , I'm not Italian.

When I first saw this movie, it was at midnight on a random cable channel because I couldn't sleep. Never have I been so grateful for my insomnia! This movie was funny and rang true from begining to end. As a native New Yorker I couldn't stop laughing at every typecast Renee Taylor hit right on the nose, and the witchcraft backdrop reminded me of my grandmother. And who doesn't love the story of Romeo and Juliet? The only thing that annoyed me is I missed the ending, but I'm going to buy myself a copy!

Hilarious romantic comedy with Jolie in one of her early roles and she gave a really good performance(especially with italian accent). I happen to live near city island in the bronx so i got a kick out of the location and setting.

This is a surprisingly funny film with a well known cast. In this "spoof" of modern day Romeo & Juliet the Italian community laughs at itself and each other.
I would put this little film in the same category as Strange Brew and The Christmas Story.
I think if it had been given some "media hype" it could have gone a lot further.
This is truly a little gem. Don't miss it!