A Malandrinha

Give this movie a break! Its worth at least a "7"! That little girl is a good actor and she's cute, too. Jim Belushi is a comic genius. You can't help but feel good at the end! I wish there were more wholesome shows like this, that you can enjoy with your kids!

Writer/Director John Hughes covered all bases (as usual) with this bitter-sweet "Sunday Afternoon" family movie. "Curly Sue" is a sweet, precocious orphan, cared for from infancy by "Bill". The pair live off their wits as they travel the great US of A. Fate matches them with a "very pretty" yuppie lawyer, and the rest is predictable.

Kids will love this film, as they can relate to the heroine, played by 9 year old Alisan Poter (who went on to be the "you go girl!" of Pepsi commercials). The character is supposed to be about 6 or 7, as she is urged to think about going to school. Some of her vocabulary suggests that she is every day of 9 or older.

Similar to "Home Alone", there is plenty of slap-stick and little fists punching big fat chins. Again, this is "formula" film making, aimed at a young audience. Entertaining and heartwarming. Don't look for any surprises, but be prepared to shed a tear or two.

I remember having a pretty low regard for a venture like this when it was first released. James "Not Jim" Belushi, a hammy kid actress, and a cheesy title in a John Hughes formula. You couldn't have paid me to see it 15 years ago. But, I got caught up watching it while wasting away a Sunday afternoon, and it hits me on a couple of levels. The fairy tale (part Pretty Woman, part reverse Pretty Woman), the very vulnerable, Elizabeth_Perkins_in_Miracle_On_42nd_Street -like performance by Kelly Lynch, the escapism. Over all, it gently pulls some very nice strings. It's pretty hard not to fall into the story, develop a crush on Kelly Lynch, identify with James Belushi, dislike the stiff bad guy boyfriend, and laugh at the Curley Sue lines. Has all the ups and downs, with a happy ending, and the kind of message you want to hear. Go ahead, waste your time on this movie, it's worth it.

If you can make the leap of faith required to believe that a successful attorney would actually fall in love with a homeless man, then you will enjoy this heart warming film.

Jim Belushi does a fair job, either you like his style or you don't. The little girl is cute enough. But, Kelly Lynch was remarkably convincing. I found myself drawn into her performance in a way that was quite surprising considering a film of this nature.

This movie is billed as a comedy and it was funny enough. Besides making me laugh, it also got me choked up at times. A good film for the whole family.

John Hughes brings us another sad tale of a character, who's heart is bigger than her wallet, or her guardian's brain.

James Belushi plays a bum. A man who has been unemployed traveling from city to city for the past ten or so years. And did I mention he travels with a little girl? Curly Sue is her name, and along with scams and easy ways of getting free food, and some money the two play a game with one another. Kelly Lynch, plays a very successful sophisticated lawyer, who happens to be the bait, for such a ploy the two decide to pull. After running over Bill (Belushi) with her car, she takes the two out for dinner in order to apologize for her actions. Throughout several other meetings with the two unfortunates, she takes them in for the night which turns into several nights.

It's a heart-warming tale of three unlikely people who find joy and happiness with one another. However, be prepared, that as funny as most of Hughes' films are, this one tends to be much more dramatic than you might think. But a wonderful piece that will stay with you years after you see it.

I give this film a 7 out of 10 (10 being the highest). Although I enjoy it thoroughly, it's still not the best movie Hughes has ever made or written.

And that's my review.