Customer Reviews

The Perez Family

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

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.

This is my second all time Marisa Tomei movie. Angelica Huston delivered a spectacular performance. Chazz Palmintien performance as a cop was superb. You could learn how to seduce a woman from him, the way he seduced Ms. Huston. Alfred Molina shined as a Cuban fleeing from Castro to start a new life in America. Marisa was sexy, alluring, seductive, attractive and very friendly like the goddess of love. You'll find it hard not to fall instantly in love with her. This movie will keep you at the edge of your seat and make you laugh and eat many bags of popcorn. I highly recommend it to all readers and shoppers.
Ikey Benney, New York City

This is one of my favorite movies! I have owned & watched it on VHS over 50 times, & when it became available on DVD, I quickly snatched it up. I'm sure the movie is enjoyable to all who give it a try, however, it is much more moving to me being spanish. From my perspective I can understand some of the struggles that the characters are going through. The music, the culture, it is all done very beautifully, despite not having many spanish actors. The ending to me is very sad & tragic & that's what makes the movie so memorable. I was very moved by the role that Alfred Molina played. He was AWESOME!! His struggle to want to reunite with his wife is very moving. Equally as moving was Angelica Houston's portrayal of Carmela. Her pain was very heartfelt. This movie is a must see. It grows on you even more as time goes by.

As a fan of director, Mira Nair, I really looked forward to seeing this movie with a unique story line. While it was interesting, I did not feel the material met her previous high levels of expertise, and felt a little campy and overdone here and there. I thought most of the acting was well done, especially Angelica Huston, and Alfred Molina, and Chazz Palminteri. I am also a huge fan of Marissa Tomei, but was disappointed in her role her. She played her character in such an exaggerated manner that it almost felt cartoonish, although I felt she improved as the movie progressed. Her Cuban enthusiasm and zest for life felt overdone, overplayed, which detracted from the essential drama of the refugee story being told. I also felt the costuming could have been more realistic, more appropriate to the income level of the people portrayed. (MT's sugar cane costume was over the top!! a caricature!) Lots of plusses, but a few too many minuses. It falls far short of being great.
Pru McDonald

This 1995 romantic comedy has gotten a second-life through the DVD release; it was a box-office failure for The Samuel Goldwyn Company, it made around [...] which was nowhere near covering the [...] production cost.

Based on a 1991 novel of the same name by author Christine Bell, the backdrop is the 1980 Mariel boatlift and the quest for a new life, a new beginning....but with a twist, which entails the last name, "Perez." Alfred Molina portrays a former Cuban aristocrat/political prisoner - Juan Raul Perez - who has just been freed from jail. He has one goal; making it to America to find his wife (portrayed by Anjelica Huston) and daughter. But on the same boat is Dottie Perez - played by Marisa Tomei - who is trying to make it back from the wrong side of the tracks.

And the hijinks kicks into gear when an official for U.S. Immigration believes they- Juan and Dottie - are married, which sets in motion a number of events where the "Perez Family" takes on a whole new meaning. With wit and a play on the politics of the time, director Mira Nair delivers a well-paced movie where romance takes a unique twist for those who truly value living life (with personal freedom) to the fullest each day.

Very entertaining story about a Hispanic family and what happens to them when they come from Cuba to Florida. A little gooey but good performances.

Angelica Huston is great and the other actors are good, too.

Worth the price of a rental or buying the DVD.

Marissa Tomei does a wonderful acting job in this movie that has such great music. I have the Music CD also.