The Perez Family Movie Review 1994

Juan Paul Perez (Molina) has spent 20 years in Cuban jails, dreaming of being reunited with wife Carmela (Huston) and daughter Teresa (Alvarado) who successfully escaped to Miami. Part of the 1980 Mariel exodus, Juan meets exuberant Dottie (Tomei), who learns families get sponsored first at the refugee camps. She convinces Juan to pose as her husband, while Carmela, who's being wooed by cop Pirelli (Palminteri), mistakenly believes Juan has literally missed the boat. Tomei's spunky (but with a garish accent), Huston's regal, Palminteri courtly, and Molina morose. The film's inconsistently whimsical, wistful, and clunky. From the novel by Christine Bell.

Distribution

Hallmark Home Entertainment, 6100 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1400, Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (213)634-3000, Fax: (213)549-3760, Remarks: Lainie Handelman, Mktg.

Available on VHS
Running time 135 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Cuba, Family Ties, Period Piece: 1980s, Politics, Miami

Screenplay

Robin Swicord

Cast

Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina, Anjelica Huston, Chazz Palminteri, Trini Alvarado, Celia Cruz

Cinematography

Stuart Dryburgh

Director

Mira Nair

Music

Alan Silvestri

Producer

Lydia Dean Pilcher, Michael Nozik, Julia Chasman, Robin Swicord, Samuel Goldwyn Company