The Engagement Ring

I am so glad I accidentally found this on TV as I was dozing off for a nap on Saturday. It kept me awake and completely charmed me. Not only were the actors very good, the settings were gorgeous (how could they NOT BE in Napa Valley?) and the music was a perfect match. I want to watch this movie again, seriously. Because of her character on Raymond, I've never been a Heaton fan, but she won me over in this movie! I base my opinion for many films on whether or not they made a rainy or cold Saturday or Sunday BETTER. This one DID IT! We could not remember the name of the actor who played the uncle, but we knew him, so when the credits actually named the actors at the end, this movie received a few more PLUSES from us! I recommend heartily!

Wit, comedy, romance...if I have to sum it up in very few words, that will be what I want to say of this movie. This was shown on the cable and so that is how I learned of it.

Two childhood sweethearts are being divided over a long-lost engagement ring and eventually moving on setting up their own families. Years later, the woman's daughter (Patricia Heaton as Sara) and the guy's nephew realises their affection for each other is hindered by that engagement ring.

I have to say Sara's actual boyfriend Brian who is the one being lost in what is going on with the two families when they are all having lunch together. All that misunderstandings came back during the lunch and it's a little comical at times seeing how the different people reacting to it. So when Sara thought her mother had not patched up with her childhood sweetheart, it happened and one surprise event came up of all these as well. Though Brian had enough of what is going on, it quite ended the way I wanted. One have to watch to get the idea.

Trying to look for some fun and laughs and a little of romance at the same time? Then this is recommended.

A delightful comedy of errors, much in the vein of "Moonstruck;" but in some ways funnier and more charming. The acting is less over-the-top than in "Moonstruck." It's Shakespearean in its Romeo & Juliet romance, and its comedic errors and misunderstandings. Its odd little plot twists cover a 40-year spoiled romance, an up-to-the minute romance, and provoke an old Italian grandmother into finally speaking, after 20 years of mourning in silence for her dead husband. Vincent Spano and Tony Lo Bianco are charming as uncle and nephew; and Lainie Kazan shines. Patricia Heaton (of "Everybody Loves Raymond") is fabulous. This is far better than most made-for-TV movies. I recommend it highly.

It's hilarious when NY filmmakers make films set in Northern California, with Northern California based characters. They cast New York actors who have NYC accents and mannerisms. It doesn't work. People who grow up in California wine country don't talk like New Yorkers or wear gold chain necklaces. We've also never used the word "palooka." Please stop.

How many times have you heard someone say that they don't watch television very much, usually only some of the programs on PBS? If this were true, "Nova" would be the most popular program of all-time, and Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano would be making probably a good living doing stand-up, instead of amassing large nine-figure net worths from their television shows. So it is with movies. We all tend to trumpet our devotion to classics like the above - and are often reluctant to admit watching (let alone liking) more seemingly-pedestrian fare like this modest film of Ms. Heaton's. As Debra on "Everybody Loves Raymond" she was always thoroughly-believable, very engaging, displayed the character's both sweet and tart sides to perfection - as well as being as pleasant to look-at as, say, Tia Carrere in "True Lies," or Sharon Stone (in ANYTHING with Sharon Stone). This movie is charming, more interesting than many trumpeted "blockbusters," and Patricia Eaton (and her fellow cast members) are likable - and she is as "pleasant to look-at" as ever.