Moonstruck-A Charming Film of Regular People

Moonstruck is a movie of such lovely normalcy. It's a film about ordinary people who experience moments of love and affection that it approaches so standardly. It doesn't play up its story for overt melodrama. Instead, it approaches its story as an assortment of standard day-to-day situations of regular people falling in love and experiencing the messiness of life. 

It makes for a film with such a lovely, cozy atmosphere. Watching the film feels like experiencing the lives of friends and loved ones—the love and messiness of the people around you. There's an immense charm in the relationships between these characters, be it Loretta and Ronny, Loretta's mother and father, or Loretta's aunt and uncle. These characters have their quirks and eccentricities, which show most in their interactions with each other. But, the writing and performances never exaggerate them. Instead, it portrays these traits as typical aspects of who they are. It makes these characters feel less like over-the-top comedic caricatures and more like regular people. 

Norman Jewisson, in the tracking shots, closeups, and warm night lighting, aids in the cozy atmosphere. Aside from the gorgeous shots of the Moon and the New York Skyline, the film's look isn't flashy. However, that less flashy look and minimalist style fit perfectly with the film, capturing the normalcy of this world and the characters. 

I can't say I was the biggest fan of how the film wrapped up all its conflicts in one fell swoop in its final minutes. The film sets up multiple messy character conflicts throughout its story. Given the complexity of these conflicts, the final scene seemed like an overly simple solution to all of them.

Otherwise, Moonstruck is a beyond-charming film. It shows life's simple joys and the messiness of real-life love and relationships. Everything feels refreshingly normal, be it the tone or the filmmaking, which gives the film immensely endearing throughout every minute of its runtime. It's a simple and unpretentious romantic comedy that Hollywood rarely produces anymore.

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