Mickey Blue Eyes

The previews that I saw for this movie promised it to be a very funny movie...and for the most part it was but it could have been better.

The movie is about a conservative British fellow (Hugh Grant) that runs an auction house in New York. He decides to propose to his girlfriend (Jeanne Tripplehorn) but she has reservations about marriage as her father has connections to the mafia. In her opinion, this marriage will not work as Grant's character will invariably be sucked into the organized crime life. He assures her that he won't and they decide to go ahead with the marriage. As you guessed it, Grant does become entangled and what ensues is a humorous "fish-out-of-water" comedy as Grant tries to get himself out of a mess.

For the most part, the characters were well played. Hugh Grant does a good job, albiet familiar to other characters that he's played recently (and probably not too unlike his real self) but it was nonetheless well played. Most of the humor revolves around his character and his ability to deliver the lines and timing is very well done. The same cannot be said for Jeanne Tripplehorn's character. She seemed to overact some scenes and others it seemed that she wasn't quite sure how to portray the character. At times, it almost made me feel uncomfortable trying to watch her find her role. James Caan did a very good job of playing the father and in some cases, he stole some scenes. The rest of the actors played their roles fairly well although many of these actors have been typecast as the mafia type character.

Although the movie was fairly amusing, there were places that it seemed to drag a little bit. A sign of a good movie for me is how much my mind wanders and this did happen in some places. In my opinion it could have been even funnier but in general it was pretty good. Overall, I found it to be entertaining and genuinely funny...7/10.

The whole idea of the movie is pretty creative, but near the end of the movie, the story got a little predictable (that's all I'll say about the plot... so no I'm not spoiling anything.)

However, I laughed to the point I was literally in pain. A lot of pain. Especially during "the restaurant scene". Even after the movie I was still giddy, and I started laughing hysterically in the parking lot of the movie theater. An aftershock I guess?

If you're looking for a good laugh you should go see it. If you're looking for a strong plot, save your time and money.

This could have easily been just another typecast gangster movie without the awkwardness of the Hugh Grant which made for great contrast and plenty of laughter.

Just happened to rent this one on a whim, mainly due to the cast - Hugh Grant and James Caan - and was surprised to find a much better than average comedy. When the world of a sophisticated English-born art auctioneer in a Tony Manhattan auction house collides with the world of the New York mob, one expects a universe of comic opportunities, and the movie pays off in spades. James Caan is becoming one of those rare actors who is as adept at comedy as at heavier roles. The script is intelligently funny, and the movie is loaded with riotously incongruous situations. The scene where Caan attempts to teach the debonair Hugh Grant how to say "fuggedaboutit" in a hood's accent is alone worth the price of the movie. An overlooked delight.

Michael Felgate (Hugh Grant) is an art-house auctioneer who finds that the girl he wants to marry, Gina Vitale {Jeanne Tripplehorn} is the daughter of leading mobster, Frank Vitale {James Caan}. Initially thinking it will be OK if he doesn't do any favours for "the mob," Michael gets deeper and deeper in trouble to the point he not only might lose his girl, but also his life.

Amiable and at times funny, Mickey Blue Eyes is the sort of safe comedy fodder to while away an afternoon with. Boasting a fine comic turn from Hugh Grant as the fop out of his depth, and boosted by James Caan kicking back and enjoying the fun, it's a film that could have been much better had it not run out of steam. The mob spoof picture is such a great premise to work from, but the main joke quickly wears thin. Just how long you can run with the normal guy in amongst the mob gag, will probably determine how much you eventually get from Kelly Makin's film. Grant is just about charming enough to keep the film on the decent side of average, and some well staged set pieces really hit the mark. But it's unlikely the ending will leave you anything other than unfulfilled. Mixed for sure, but hardly a crime against comedy. 6/10