Once More with Feeling

Everyone over 40 has a dream deferred that sometimes keeps us awake at night. "Once More With Feeling" reminds us how life gets in the way of those dreams. Dr. Frank Gregorio's,Chazz Palminteri, immigrant parents wanted him to become a doctor which he did, but he dreamed to be a singer. Forty years later before his daughter's wedding he starts singing in karaoke contests- trying to live his dream.

Facing his successful day to day practice, Dr. Gregorio longs for the dream he had as a young man; maybe for a change of pace, maybe for some excitement, but mostly for himself--that one thing he still has within that will make him happy--at least he thinks so.

Set in suburban Connecticut amidst wedding plans for his daughter, babysitting the grand kids, aging parents, children with mid-life crisis, Frank's dream buys him some personal time and competes with his reality. Karaoke contests are the vehicle to stardom in Frank's eyes, but his reality has replaced his dreams with something more important to him.

The singing will not win an Oscar, but the sentiment can't be topped.

OK, this movie has the potential of a decent flick but the pace drags and the characters are pretty dull. If you want a synopsis then go to the first page and read it there. It is worth watching to see how much weight a once fine Linda Fiorentino has gained. I didn't even recognize her the first two times she appears on screen. Drea De Matteo's character complains about her weight when she looks great- she needed to send Linda's character to the plastic surgeon.

I want to watch films that entertain me or intrigue me or in some way make me think. Even the corny parts weren't corny enough to be funny. Yeah, there is some decent but boring singing in this movie, but it seemed like someone put valium in the water of the whole cast and crew. It did help my ambien to kick in. Don't waste your time unless you need to get to sleep, and want to see how Linda gained like 50 lbs.

I do not usually like fun "feel-good" films, unless there is intelligent and thoughtful dialog. This is a fun drama, not exactly a comedy similar to "City Island", but there are surprise performances here, and a relevant story.

Chazz Palmintieri as Connecticut psychiatrist Dr. Gregorio is well-settled but "missing something" as many of us feel after a decade or two, or three of marriage.

Drea De Matteo is also good as his disaffected daughter, raising young kids, feeling neglected in a marriage and wanting the band-aid of plastic surgery, or an affair, which she thinks may make her feel better.

Linda Fiorentino (1994 "The Final Seduction") also has a wonderful cameo and excellent stage-presence in an almost Anita O'Day recreation as a cocktail lounge chanteuse. The soundtrack is also very good. Give this film a chance as it is fun but also well-written, and some very good story points. 10/10.

Linda was the major star (not cameo)in The Last Seduction (not Final Seduction). She was overlooked at Oscar time since the film ran on TV making the film ineligible for Academy Awards. In any event, Last Seduction is a terrific film and easily could have garnered Linda an actress nomination.