Mickey Blue Eyes

A flat comedy that never really settles into a groove, Mickey Blue Eyes casts Hugh Grant as a New York art auctioneer who discovers that his fiancee's (Jeanne Tripplehorn) family is "family" in the Godfather sense of the word. It's a great set-up to drop self-conscious Grant in the middle of a bunch of goodfellas and watch him try to feign bravado, and when the film actually sticks to this cute premise, it produces a few very funny scenes. Unfortunately, the fish-out-of-water concept is treated almost as an afterthought, introduced half-way through the film and quickly discarded. That leaves the romantic angle, which never focuses on the relationship between Grant and Tripplehorn long enough to allow any chemistry to develop. Mickey Blue Eyes is instantly forgettable, concerned only with leaving the audience with a punch line and a kiss, rather than a wonderful "romantic comedy" featuring people we care about in situations that engage our interest. Not recommended. (S. Renshaw)