Cousins (Widescreen)

This is one of those incredibly charming,disarmingly sweet, and totally touching comedic romances that you can watch over and over and over again- and still get that warm and fuzzy feeling inside.The plot is pretty typical, but the entire cast(Isabella and Ted have GREAT chemistry, the dialogue, and just the entire atmosphere of the thing make it work-big time.They just don't make too many romantic comedies like this anymore.Even if you hate the genre, but are just in the mood for something light, I definately recommend this sweet little gem!

4.5 stars. I was walking up and down the aisles of my local video store the other day and I was getting frustrated. The new release I wanted to rent wasn't there, none of the films on my short rental list were even available. So I wandered the aisles, sulking, when I noticed a movie I hadn't seen in years. It was "Cousins," with Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini. Why not? I really didn't remember much about it other than rave critical reviews from the time. I was a teenager at the time so it is not really surprising that I don't remember a romance film. That was the last thing on my mind. Anyway, I got it home, dished up some spaghetti, and sat down to watch an "okay" movie. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself interested in the goings on of each and every character in this large ensemble cast. But the throughline story involves the two main actors, Ted and Isabella. Their romance is both realistic and fantastical, where they are able to see all the wonders of the world merely by staring into each other's eyes. Now, at first that may sound sappy. Believe me, I'm the last man on Earth to be attracted to a romance film, but somehow this one got to me. It could have been Isabella Rossellini, who for a large part of the film resembled her gorgeous mother, Ingrid Bergman. It was like watching a "classic romance" filmed for a different era, Mrs. Bergman's daughter absolutely glowing like her mother used to. There are also obvious nods to the film "Moonstruck" with its sometimes quirky characters caught in realistic situations. This movie could have been called "3 Weddings and a Funeral." It has a Hollywood ending, complete with sailing off toward the horizon, all the couple's dreams coming true, but somehow I loved it. I must be getting old. :) What's impossible to believe is that this was directed by Joel Schumacher, who directed the abysmal "Batman and Robin." It's really too bad he didn't stay with films about real people, because this film shines. This is a nearly lost, mostly forgotten gem of a film, and it is easy to recommend.

This is a great movie. Definitely one to own.