Cruise

I came for Emily Ratajkowski. I stayed for Emily Ratajkowski. Her character is the only one I cared about. I was familiar with Emily's time in music videos and modeling. I came in with low hope of her acting chops. I am so impressed that I will now be searching out more of her movies. She is a double threat. The movie was a bit slow for me. It climbed too much into the Italian stereotypes.

I did however like the retro feel of the 80's it was like a Time Machine. What with the cars and such. Needed more 80's products. If you love New York and grew up in the 80's, this movie is for you. Emily is the cherry on top.

The feeling of this film is really cool. It feels like cultural slice of life in New York. It worked for me more as dramedy than a romance, because I never really felt incredibly invested in the characters. They weren't entirely likeable/sympathetic, but they were still interesting.

If it seems familiar, go with the feeling. Bad boy from wrong side of tracks (Italian, of course) falls for thrill seeking girl in ivy league college from the suburbs (Jewish American Princess with lips only a Plastic Surgeon could admire). This version is a little more adult but is on the spectrum of Hollywood young "love" stories. Even a faint whiff of Romeo and Juliet meets Dirty Dancing, that's how trite it seemed at times.

On the "Pro" side, the budget was on the screen, the actors played their stereotypes, and the leads were good enough. Emily Ratajkowski's lip job, if just for vanity and not medically needed, should be a warning to young people, natural beauty is always better than surgical.

Yes! It's a nice 80" vibe! Definitely worth a try.

Not just of the era, but of a typical 80's romantic movie plot line. Seigel got it right. Cruise is a pretty in pink "salut" to the rich/poor theme of the 80's. My biggest contention is that even though the main car in this film (1987 Buick grand national) is a personal favorite, the speed was bought, not built. The soundtrack couldn't be more spot on for the time. As a fan of stand up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, I waited longer than I expected for his villainy to make an appearance BUT the wait was worth it. Gio's best buddies were a nice bit of spice. Likable but not overbearing characters. This isn't benvolio and mercuchio after all. The time spent paying homage to the culture and style of the 80's is well done but over all I feel the pacing was splintered with attention being spent on too many various aspects of the time (stealing stereos and Italian family and racing and rich/poor and sex and and drugs and and and)

It doesn't go where you think it will which is a nice change. If you're looking for a typical movie hero, you won't find it here. You'll find sacrifice and humility. Not bad all in all. A movie I was looking forward to and one that delivered in ways in didn't expect.