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Friends and Family | 
| Studio: Paradox
Category: Video
List Price: CDN$ 53.99
Buy New: CDN$ 43.19
You Save: CDN$ 10.80 (20%)
New (1) Used (1) from CDN$ 19.99
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 2176
Format: Dolby, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Media: DVD
ISBN: 1932134190
UPC: 754703762139
EAN: 9781932134193
ASIN: B0000C23FY
Release Date: October 28, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Please Don't... September 15, 2005
Yevgen Yasynskyy (Alberta Canada)
Yeah, Gay Mafia... Sounds very funny isn't it? But it isn't. Please don't go with the price - never! More expensive DVD does not mean it will be a good movie. More often it is other way arround. The funny movie and funny story ended up being boring and not worth money to spend on it.
Bad July 3, 2004
J. A. Torrontegui (Bilbao, Spain)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The movie never finds its tone. It's supossed to be funny but it isn't, mainly due to its unbelievavility. The director treats some scenes as if it were high-comedy, and others as pure caricature, and it doesn't work. The first ones end up as ridiculous and the second ones as tiresome.
Also this is one of those movies where the 2 main characters are a gay couple and they almost don't touch each other during the whole movie. And I think they don't kiss once.
The dvd has a full-screen transfer.
A BIG PUFFY SOUFFLE July 3, 2004
Michael C. Smith (San Francisco, CA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
"Friends and Family" a film homage to the screwball comedies of the 1930's is a big puffy soufflé. The opening credits are clever and beautifully photographed. They set up a perfect tone for a sparkling comedy of screwball manners. After the credits fade, something goes wrong and all the air in this concoction slowly escapes like a whoopee cushion being sat upon by a large mobster.
The premise of the film is clever and with a talented cast of fine New York actors there are moments in the movie that are indeed funny. But you have to wait for them. This film is not the rollercoaster ride it wants to be, it is the line waiting to get onto it.
In possession of one of the truly handsome faces on the screen today, Greg Lauren is coolly menacing as the straight acting Steven Torcelli gay mob hit man with his partner/lover Danny Russo. His comic timing is well placed and contrasts well with the zany characters he is surrounded by. As Steven's boyfriend and fellow killer, Christopher Gartin does well in the bland role of Danny. Yet with most of the comedy chores going to Lauren he becomes not much more than comedic wallpaper. Tony Lo Bianco is well cast as the Don of the mob family and brings well-timed humor to his role especially in his phone conversation with the Senator. Anna Maria Alberghetti turns the role of wife to the Don into something other than the expected creating a comic black widow eager to have her sons assume the roles of killers for the family.
Tovah Feldshuh and Brian Lane Green catapult themselves over the top as midwestern parents of the boy who is to marry into the mob family. They have fun in their roles but somehow their comedy is too strident and clashes with the rest of the ensembles more polished performances. Beth Fowler gives the best performance in the film and has just the right edge to her character as the mother of Steven. She steals the spotlight every time she appears on screen.
The look of the film is marvelous. The cinematography by John Leuba is so rich and atmospheric that it gives "Friends and Family" the look of a studio film from the era it means to honor. But a film such as this needs to have much more going for it than just a pretty face, it needs energy.
The major problem with "Friends and Family" lies in two camps. First there is the screenplay by Joseph Triebwasser. There are a few good scenes, but where it strives to be a light and fast-paced comedy in the manner of Hawks or Capra is fails. It is not much more than a plodding pilot for a WB sitcom. It needs tightening and several more re-writes and a good injection of smart dialog. Smart fast paced dialog is essential for screwball to succeed. The second problem is in the direction and editing. This was Kristen Coury's first time at bat as a director and it is a valiant and ambitious effort. So the problem of pace is not hers alone but must fall partiality in the laps of her editors, Tom Swartwout and Hector Venegas. A good director and editor can work together to tighten timing and pace where it is needed. That does not happen here. Nowhere is it more evident than in the third act at the banquet. Where the action should be frenetic and zany it grinds on and punctures the comic intent of the scene. It is evident that that the lack of time and money available to the production added to the problems in this scene and we are left with some odd jumps in cutting and loss in some vital connecting information. The whole film is building to this final madcap ending yet we are left sitting on the floor twiddling our fingers while the action stops for all the characters to reflect and yawn. I agree with the screenwriter, maybe it would have been funnier to have Anna Maria Alberghetti save the day.
 A delightful comedy! June 20, 2004
Mark Twain (www.chismetime.com)
Friends and Family is a delightful and clever comedy. The plot, and many subplots actually, are a bit far-fetched, but they provides pure escapism, which we all need sometimes. The characters, as unbelievable as they are, come out as totally outrageous, much needed in a comedy of this nature. The story becomes so over the top, it borders on ridiculous, but manages to entertain, while being totally hilarious. I really enjoyed this film and smiled throughout at the pure absurdity of it all. The cast was good, the acting okay, but the characters were terrific in my mind. Yes, some people might consider these people stereotypes, but the stereotype came about for a reason....these people actually EXIST! The only real problem I had, and for a movie like this it's a big one, is the displays of affection between the two leads. I don't need to see full on gay sex, but it would have been nice to have seen the couple at least share a light kiss or two. The end did have them hold hands, with beautiful dialogue expressing their love for each other, and I would have liked to see more of that throughout, just a couple more times at least. It showed a human side to these killers that we just needed to see more of. This is a cross between La Cage Aux Follies (The Birdcage), The Sopranos, and Mambo Italiano, but is too Disneyfied for it's own good. Actually, it's one 'gay film' the whole family can enjoy-- no sex, no profanity, and only very mild violence. I'd definitely rate it a PG. This isn't a perfect film, but it's a perfectly enjoyable one. Grade: A-
perfect little film, perfectly done June 6, 2004
john (Florida)
This little film proves that you CAN have a good gay film without sex and without nudity.The chemistry between the two leads (Steven and Danny) was so good - they felt "right" together. They managed to communicate volumes with the way they looked at each other. These are two talented actors. We would not change a thing in this film
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