Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Erica Derrick By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Ezmae Chang This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

tavm After over 30 years of only reading about this movie, I finally watched it yesterday on a DVD that I borrowed at the library a few weeks ago. Taking place during World War II, Sean Penn and Nicholas Cage play a couple of late teens who try to live life to the fullest before they join the Marines. Penn develops a relationship with Elizabeth McGovern who he thinks may be a "Gatsby Girl". Cage's character is involved with a girl named Sally who ends up in an unfortunate situation. I'll stop there and just say there's quite a compelling mix of drama, romance, and comedy that keeps one watching and enjoying nearly every minute that happens during the whole movie. This being only Richard Benjamin's second film as director-after My Favorite Year-he really handles Steve Kloves' material sensitively enough that one is touched even during parts that seem to threaten to get a little too much on the sentimental side though still somewhat believable. Really, all I'll say now is I highly recommend Racing with the Moon.

atlasmb Henry (Sean Penn) and Nicky (Nicholas Cage) are best friends who attend high school together. It's 1942 and all of life seems like a prelude to their induction into the Marines. They share all the adventures of young men on the threshold of adulthood. But Nicky is irresponsible, never seeming to consider the consequences of his actions.Henry meets Caddie (Elizabeth McGovern), a classmate who lives in a nice house on a hill. In this coming of age story, Henry finds that he has adult feelings for Caddie. She helps teach him about life's consequences.I know some viewers are not fans of Sean Penn, Nicholas Cage or Elizabeth McGovern, so any one of them in a cast might discourage someone from viewing this film. Personally, I am a fan of Elizabeth McGovern. And I have seen excellent performances from the two men, even if I do not embrace the body of their work. In "Racing with the Moon", each of them is well suited for his part. I think most who appreciate period pieces like "Stand by Me" or "The Summer of 42" will enjoy this film.With direction by Richard Benjamin, RWTM really captures the feeling of the times, when America was so enveloped by patriotism and somewhat naïve about its place in the world. In just three more years, the worldview would change with the advent of nuclear weaponry. The music in the film really helps create the tone of the times. I enjoyed this film, particularly because of the relationship between the two young lovers.

FatMan-QaTFM Oh boy oh boy! I'm up to 32 Nick Cage movies watched! Crossed the halfway point with this gem and Bringing Out the Dead.What do we have here? A coming of age drama in which Nick Cage plays an idiotic womanizer who uses his friends? And do we also have a moody, whiny Sean Penn to boot? What more could I ask for?? Although it seems to have killed his career as a director, Richard Benjamin at least had the decency to shoot it in 1.85:1, unlike Zandalee.The story involved Nicky (Nick Cage... hmm), his friend Henry (Sean Penn), and Henry's chubby chunkin' cheeked love interest, Caddie (Elizabeth McGovern). Nicky loves to run the gauntlet of loose women in town, while Henry is a one-girl man. All heck breaks loose when Nicky impregnates a girl and convinces her to abort it. Hilarity ensues as they are ushered off to war after doing a lot of yelling and moping.Favorite Nick Cage Line: "Wow, 200 bucks a shot. That's some business, huh?"Favorite Nick Cage Moment: When he's driving his hot rod away from the abortion, swigging from a booze bottle. Classy.Gotta be honest, I had to look up a script to even find a decent NC line in the entire movie. Unlike many of his movies, it wasn't so much embarrassing as it was boring. Surprisingly, there were some saucy scenes in this (for whatever reason) PG movie underscored by a sensual saxophone soundtrack.

TamPalm I had not even heard of this movie until I caught it yesterday on one of the movie channels. A real delight. It's not heavy, there is no horrible lows or extreme highs. It's steady-paced and its significance will mean something different to each viewer. In fact, I thought it was an adaptation of a movie because it feels like a literary work, one in which you feel yourself analyzing the meaning of this or that. At its core though, it's essentially a coming of age story, not really a lot more than that.By far, the movie's best selling feature is the acting. Simply superb, from all parties, especially Penn and McGovern. Sean Penn is really likable in this role, sweet and endearing. You almost forget what you know of him later on,how political and intense he really is in his real life. But that's what superb actors do--they make you forget what you know about them personally and force you to accept whatever character they're offering on the screen. I also thought Elizabeth McGovern played her role seamlessly. She and Penn are great together. Nicholas Cage also shines, but not as brightly as the two main characters.This movie is pleasant and delightful, but not all that memorable. It won't leave a huge indelible impression on you. It will just make you feel good for a few hours, then you'll be on to the next thing, maybe even forgetting about the movie. So I can see how it wasn't a smash hit and how it has flown under so many people's radar. Star Wars it ain't. But a quality piece of cinema it most definitely is.One small quarrel I will offer before closing. I would like to know how the powers that be negotiated the movie down from an R-rating to PG. There is nudity and language that does not fit PG criteria. I smell a payoff of some sort. HmmmAnyway, see this film on a lazy afternoon, even add it to your DVD collection for those times when you just want to feel good. It is worthy.7/10