The comedy that comes out of this movie is delivered through the eyes of irony rather than something that is actually funny. It's a genuine crowd pleaser that shows the wacky side of an Italian American family as seen through the sardonic Anthony LaPaglia with the heart of patriarch Danny Aiello, tough but loving, hot tempered but sentimental, trying to knock some sense into his son without getting rid of the voices he jokingly believes lives in his son's head. Then there's LaPaglia's buddies from child, all of them nuts in very funny ways. Through LaPaglia's narration, this film is able to show all of these bizarre situations that occur up to the time he wins the very first New York State lottery which is just another bit of luck that LaPaglia feels to be unfortunate.
Many films that try to build their structure around narration fail, but this one proves that when it is done correctly, it works completely, and you really feel like you are back in time in 1960's Queens thanks to the intelligence of the script. It could be called a companion piece to Chazz Palminteri's "A Bronx Tale" (released two years later), even though the two films are completely independent of each other. Anyone who has a large family can identify with the various personalities, especially with a strong ethnic background where old traditions dominate everyone irregardless whether they want it or not.
Best known for playing strong willed Jewish mothers, Lanie Kazan is perfect as the strong Italian mother. (Any wonder she later did it as a strong Greek matriarch?) Aiello portrays a relatable character, proud yet stubborn, loyal but disgruntled (especially by his son's being the one to get the lucky break, not him), and the vulnerability in LaPaglia trying to sympathize with his dad makes for an honorable, if flawed, hero. There's only a teeny bit of stereotyping, with the mob certainly a part of the story, but not dominating it. The soundtrack features lots of great old standards which helps create the perfect mood. There are a ton of surprises along the way that humanizes everybody and brings a ton of Christmas spirit via Tony Bennett records and a bit of old fashioned family love that strengthens, not weakens, every time family members squabble.
Many films that try to build their structure around narration fail, but this one proves that when it is done correctly, it works completely, and you really feel like you are back in time in 1960's Queens thanks to the intelligence of the script. It could be called a companion piece to Chazz Palminteri's "A Bronx Tale" (released two years later), even though the two films are completely independent of each other. Anyone who has a large family can identify with the various personalities, especially with a strong ethnic background where old traditions dominate everyone irregardless whether they want it or not.
Best known for playing strong willed Jewish mothers, Lanie Kazan is perfect as the strong Italian mother. (Any wonder she later did it as a strong Greek matriarch?) Aiello portrays a relatable character, proud yet stubborn, loyal but disgruntled (especially by his son's being the one to get the lucky break, not him), and the vulnerability in LaPaglia trying to sympathize with his dad makes for an honorable, if flawed, hero. There's only a teeny bit of stereotyping, with the mob certainly a part of the story, but not dominating it. The soundtrack features lots of great old standards which helps create the perfect mood. There are a ton of surprises along the way that humanizes everybody and brings a ton of Christmas spirit via Tony Bennett records and a bit of old fashioned family love that strengthens, not weakens, every time family members squabble.