Mickey Blue Eyes Synopsis: English art dealer Michael Felgate is dumbfounded to learn that his girlfriend, Gina Vitale, cannot accept his marriage proposal because her entire family is involved with the Mafia. Undeterred and in love, Michael meets Gina’s father, mob boss Frank, who immediately takes a shine to the young suitor. But before he can give his blessing, Frank has plans for Michael that may or may not end in wedding bells.
Michael Felgate is an art auctioneer ready to propose to his girlfriend, Gina, despite having only known each other for three months. Gina loves Michael but is very wary about getting married due to her “eccentric” family, whom Michael has not yet met. After she runs off, Michael searches for her at her father’s restaurant, where he meets Frank for the first time. Frank gives Michael his blessing to marry Gina, but Michael soon discovers Gina’s family is actually connected to the mob.
This was my first time watching Mickey Blue Eyes, released in 1999 to so-so reviews. It was also Hugh Grant’s second romantic comedy of the year, preceded by Notting Hill, which was a much bigger commercial and critical success. But I’m not here to compare the two. It’s easy to understand how Mickey Blue Eyes got lost in Notting Hill’s shadow in 1999 (and beyond).
Hugh Grant plays Michael as his usual, affable self, and I really enjoyed his scenes with James Caan. They had an easy, humorous rapport throughout the film, which I think is what sustained it as watchable. I have grown to like Caan as a comedic actor. His humor is so subtle, yet he never loses his cool factor.
Jeanne Tripplehorn plays Gina, who is clearly put off by her family’s connections to the mob, yet when she finds herself in a dangerous situation, she runs off, leaving Michael to deal with the fallout. Tripplehorn and Grant are fine together, but their romance is weak, taking a backseat to Michael and Frank’s shenanigans.
A very talented cast is involved, but the script is flimsy low-brow humor. It’s clearly a parody of mobster movies… or at least, it’s attempting to parody mobster movies, but it’s bogged down by all too familiar gags that don’t feel fresh enough to be funny.
The upside of Mickey Blue Eyes is Hugh Grant. Yes, he acts exactly as you would expect him to in a romantic comedy… bumbling and earnest… but it works. And frankly, watching him try to speak mobster is the movie’s most hilarious bit. It’s not Grant’s best work, but it’s passable.
Watched: 04/14/2022
Notable Song: Mambo Italiano by Rosemary Clooney
