Review of City Island (2009) by Tara R — 25 Aug 2010

"City Island" starts off as a serious and interesting drama about a corrections officer (an ok Andy Garcia with a heavy Bronx accent) but then dissipates into a sitcom. It seems the producers thought they should imitate Tyler Perry's movies but for Italian Americans. By the end, the main issues of honesty and telling the truth are substituted for slapstick.

I was impressed by Steven Strait as Tony; the actor has a rare ability of looking like a model but he can act. The movie is also dishonest because it has him leaving prison looking like a model, buffed, with long locks, fresh clothes; you'd think prison is more like a spa. Sometimes the movie veers into John Water's territory with the subplot of the son, played winningly by Ezra Miller, who's obsessed with watching obese women eat. Julianna Marguilies has a terrible role as a shrew and Dominik Garcia-Lorido doesn't have much to do but sulk. Emily Mortimer as Garcia's friend and Alan Arkin as his drama coach are very good but their roles are too minor to be memorable.

Too bad director Raymond De Felitta is trying to force the laugh track instead of relying on his light material to charm the audience. He should have watched "Moonstruck" instead and so should audiences looking for a light comedy about an Italian family.