Crazy from the Heart

This was a really sweet movie about life in a small Texas town. While it might stretch your imagination to believe that a high school principal could find true love with the school janitor, it isn't hard to believe what happens when the town folks find out about it. Bigotry is still alive and well in the good old USA. I found myself rooting for true love.

I thought Christine Lahti and Rubén Blades gave award-winning performances. The script was extremely well-written and avoided the stereotypical Latino characters we are all too familiar with. The storyline was great with enough twists and turns to keep it moving along nicely. I was thoroughly drawn into the story and was pleasantly surprised on more than a few occasions by the characters, the dialogue and the action. William Russ, Louise Latham and Tommy Muñiz all deserve kudos for their portrayals as does Mary Kay Place who seems to deliver at every opportunity regardless of the genre. See it!

I love this movie...have rented it numerous times on VHS and have watched it over and over when it has appeared on TV. Please, please, please release it on DVD. It is one of those feel good movies with great acting that is so hard to find...one you can sit back and enjoy on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It seems, after visiting this site, that there are a lot of people out there who feel the same way I do. Memorable roles for Blades and Lahti and the actor who portrayed his father...I just loved him. If Thomas Schlamme or Christine Lahti visit this site perhaps you can have some influence over the powers that be to release this movie, on DVD. Who knows, you may find a whole new generation of fans of "Crazy From the Heart".

I recently watched this again after over 10 years, a friend had it at her house. I must get one! This is where I first fell in love with Reuben Blades...ah, Ernesto, Ernesto, Ernesto..a man to melt your heart with those beautiful eyes, sincere demeanor. I could listen to him talk all day. His warmth just comes right out at you. Lahti's performance was thoughtful and touching, but did not convince me of her position. Perhaps I am only jealous. Nice sentiment of not so much love conquers all, but more that life is rough to everyone, we all have barricades, maybe we need to hold on to someone who loves us. I am a cynic about love, and I have to say that I have never seen ANY movie that made me reconsider my options the way this one does. It touches something inside. I actually cried. It makes one believe in falling in love once more. THAT is a good, good thing.

Many IMDB users rated this movie 10 out of 10, and I can see why. The two main actors do a super job and there is a fine script. Well OK, look, this is no Academy Award winner, and it is a 'made-for-TV' film. However it is still worth renting it on video or catching it on TV. Just sit back and ENJOY the light-hearted romance. My wife and I laughed and cheered along with the events on screen that unfold in the small Texan town. I suppose if it were analyzed by a New York or Chicago film critic it would be torn to bits, especially due to the many cliches portrayed. I don't care. It is a great film and we both thoroughly liked it. Right from the very first minute we knew that we chose a good video. BTW, the Hispanic grandfather is wonderful - you cannot help loving this guy. Have fun watching this one!