THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, May 16, 1995 TAG: 9505160052
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
DOTTIE IS a loose woman in a tight dress.
As the driving force in ``The Perez Family,'' she is a mambo in motion. ``I am like Cuba. Used by many, conquered by none!'' she exudes as she goes about the energetic business of diverting U.S. Customs agents in Miami's Little Havana.
``The Perez Family'' is a rare balancing act. It is a hilarious comedy that plays around with serious romance and even has something to say about what many claim is the fading American dream. Like the recent ``Don Juan DeMarco,'' it is an outright enjoyable, unpredictable comedy-romance.
Marisa Tomei, the surprise Oscar winner for ``My Cousin Vinny,'' more than vindicates herself with a wild, recklessly brave performance as Dottie, an ex-prostitute who is, nonetheless, childlike in her naivete.
Tomei often goes over the top in her insinuations, but all to the good. Subtlety is not expected from her character. This is a girl who most wants to get out of the sugar cane fields and get to America so she can make love with John Wayne. She's delighted when she sees a sign that reads Hollywood is only a few miles away. She doesn't realize it's Hollywood, Fla.
When she learns Wayne is dead, she's heartbroken. ``Elvis Presley, I knew was dead, but not John Wayne,'' she says.
But there is no shortage of men in her life. When she learns that she needs a ``family'' to get sponsorship to stay in America, she picks up shy, quiet Juan Raul Perez (Alfred Molina). He's on the rebound. Once a wealthy landowner in Cuba, he's been a political prisoner for 20 years, waiting for a chance to be reunited with his wife in Miami. He lives only in the past.
The wife, Carmela, is played by Anjelica Huston. It's her most brassy comedic role since ``Prizzi's Honor.'' She's waited so long for Juan that memory has gotten misty. Even now, she believes her long-awaited husband is not in the new batch of boat people just arrived.
She's susceptible to the interests of a police officer (Chazz Palminteri) who comes to investigate when her burglar alarm goes off.
Meanwhile, Dottie plans to make America her permanent home. The refugees live in tents and other shelters in Miami's Orange Bowl. She seduces a guard while recruiting new ``family'' members, including a rascally boy who steals regularly and an out-of-it grandfather who will strip off his clothes and run about the streets if you don't restrain him). It seems everyone is named Perez.
The allegory is obvious. All of us are family. All of us need support.
The setting is the 1980 Mariel boatlift, when Fidel Castro emptied many of his prisons and thousands were allowed to flee to the United States. The rhythm is distinctly Latin.
As directed by Mira Nair (whose Indian film ``Salaam Bombay!'' is already a modern classic), this tragic situation takes on comedic aspects. The love affairs take unexpected turns, but we do end up with several families.
You'll have a great time with ``The Perez Family.'' ILLUSTRATION: MOVIE REVIEW
``The Perez Family''
Cast: Marisa Tomei, Alfred Molina, Chazz Palminteri, Anjelica
Huston, Trini Alvarado, Celia Cruz
Director: Mira Nair
Screenplay: Robin Swicord, based on the novel by Christine Bell
Music: Alan Silvestri
MPAA rating: R (sexual situations, some language)
Mal's rating: ***1/2
Locations: Chesapeake Square in Chesapeake; Circle 4 in Norfolk;
Columbus, Kemps River, Lynnhaven Mall in Virginia Beach
by CNB