[.ca] Mickey Blue Eyes (Widescreen/Full Screen) (ISBN 0780625277)

From Amazon.com:
Mickey Blue Eyes was crafted as a vehicle for the stammering British charm of Hugh Grant (star of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Nine Months), so whether or not you like the movie will depend heavily on your affection for Grant. He plays an art auctioneer who falls in love with schoolteacher Jeanne Tripplehorn (Basic Instinct, Very Bad Things), who just happens to be the daughter of mobster James Caan (The Godfather, Misery). To protect Grant, Tripplehorn tries to fend off his proposal of marriage, but some miscommunications lead to Grant being embraced by the "family." After the mob decides to launder money through Grant's auction house, an accidental killing results in Grant pretending to be Mickey Blue Eyes out of Kansas City (the sight and sound of Grant trying to say "fuggedaboudit" was undoubtedly what sold the movie in the first place). The plot isn't as well executed as it could be, but the leads are all well cast and there are some excellent supporting performances, particularly Burt Young (Rocky) as a myopic mob boss and Scott Thompson (from the comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall) as a sprightly FBI agent. --Bret Fetzer

Uneven, somewhat amusing Mafia spoof:
English actor Hugh Grant, who may be as close as we'll get to a modern-day Cary Grant, was on a roll in 1999. Notting Hill, in which he costarred with Julia Roberts, was a big hit both here and abroad. A couple of months later, Mickey Blue Eyes was released, and Mr. Grant's career once more rolled headlong into a brick wall. The last time this happened to him was several years ago after he appeared in the surprise comedy smash, Four Weddings and a Funeral. This says less about the charming and affable actor's talents than it does about his choice of scripts. Mickey Blue Eyes tries very hard to win us over, but neither the humor nor the love interest proves to be first class. Grant plays Michael Felgate, manager of a classy New York auction house. He has fallen madly in love with Gina Vitale \oJeanne Tripplehorn\c, a school teacher. When he asks her to marry him, she refuses. What he doesn't yet know is that her father is in the Mafia, and she doesn't want to expose Michael to that lifestyle. Michael decides to talk to Dad, and it only takes a few minutes for Frank Vitale's \oJames Caan\c background to come out. Although Michael swears to Gina that he will not be affected by the situation, he is soon asked to pay back an unasked for favor to the mob. There's no safe way out for him, and soon more than just his love life is in jeopardy. One factor that weakens Mickey Blue Eyes is a storyline that does not equal that of many Mafioso movies that have preceded it. For example, the story of a guy who gets sucked into the Mob was far funnier in Analyze This. There are a few genuinely funny sight gags, but the rest have been seen before. As for the romance, there is almost no chemistry between Grant and Tripplehorn. One reason is that her character does not dominate the screen in the way Julia Roberts did in Notting Hill or Andie McDowell did in Four Weddings and a Funeral. One trick to a good romantic comedy or drama is to show a woman who is worth pursuing no matter what it might cost a guy. Gina Vitale is not that interesting a character, which makes the contortions Michael Felgate puts himself through seem more silly than amusing. Mickey Blue Eyes is perhaps more entertaining than I have made it sound. Comedy seems to be the hardest genre to describe. The movie has it's moments. It is neither dull nor dreary. It simply is not as strong as I think it should have been. Mr. Grant deserves better, and I think you do, too.

Nice romantic comedy.:
This film combines romance, comedy and the Mafia quite well. Hugh Grant is romantically involved with a beautiful girl whose father (James Caan) is a NYC mob figure. She tries to hide it from him, but eventually he finds out and becomes innocently involved with her father and the mob. Enjoyable flick.

IT'S NO "ANALYZE THIS", BUT FUN ROMP THRU A DOOZY SITUATION:
Witty theme, darker than you'd expect and with some dead-serious undertones (Burt Young's character, for example, is *scary* without a trace of humor) but this is totally appropriate in context and gives the movie a punch that many comedies lack. Hugh Grant's comic timing took me by surprise, as did Jeanne T's convincing rendition of a mafia don's daughter. James Caan was actually the reason I picked this DVD up and did not regret it. Very worthy spin for an evening if you like atypical comedies in general or mafia comedies in particular.

Hugh Grant Provides Lots of Light-hearted Fun !!!:
Whenever I find an unfavorable review for this film it really mystifies me. This is one of my favorite comedies!! Hugh Grant does his usual excellent job since this story serves as a PERFECT vehicle for his familiar cinematic personna. There are definitely some unforgettable scenes here...I'm talking about the botched up marriage proposal of course, and who can forget the part where James Caan has to teach Grant how to talk like a gangster?! There are soooo many laughs-- never a dull moment and a great bargain for such a fun movie! If you like Grant, this DVD is a must have! If you don't, then you cannot recognize a truly charismatic performer when you see one.

Fun.:
Another great movie with Hugh Grant. I loved the parody of the mafia mobsters. All the things that are being played out so seriously in films like 'The Godfather', are being parodied in this film.