The Perez Family (1995)

Director:

Mira Nair

Writers (WGA):

Christine Bell (novel)
Robin Swicord (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 May 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

On the way to finding a family, she found love.

Plot:

In an attempt to secure a sponsor, an unlikely group of Cuban refugees become a "family" as the U.S...

Plot Keywords:

Immigration | Political Prisoner | Love | USA | Dysfunctional Family

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Marisa Tomei	...	Dorita Evita Perez
Alfred Molina	...	Juan Raul Perez
Anjelica Huston	...	Carmela Perez
Chazz Palminteri	...	Lt. John Pirelli
Trini Alvarado	...	Teresa Perez
Celia Cruz	...	Luz Pat
Ranjit Chowdhry	...	Indian immigration official
Diego Wallraff	...	Angel Diaz
Ellen Cleghorne	...	Officer Rhoades
Angela Lanza	...	Flavia
Jose Felipe Padron	...	Felipe Perez
Lázaro Pérez	...	Armando 'Papi' Perez
Bill Sage	...	Steve Steverino
Vincent Gallo	...	Orlando
Billy Hopkins	...	Father Aiden

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

UK:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Coral Gables, Florida, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Company, The

Trivia:

Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón was supposed to be directing this film, but pulled out before production started.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dottie goes to make out with the security guard at the bar, the first wide shot shows her without her orange pants on, just black panties. In the next shot, she is wearing her pants, then the security guard precedes to pull them down, showing the black panties previously shown from a far distance in the first wide shot.

Movie Connections:

Features Angel and the Badman (1947)

love Elvis Presley, I dig the rock and roll, I want to F*CK... John Wayne

This is a cute little film starring Marisa Tomei (Wild Hogs, My Cousin Vinny) and Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Frida) as Cubans who came over on the Marial boat lift in the 80s.

Juan Raul Perez (Molina) is married to Carmela (Anjelica Huston), who came to America 20 years previous while Juan languished in a Cuban prison. He is stuck in an immigration facility with Dorita Evita Perez (Tomei), who is not related to him, but pretends to be his wife so they can get out. They even pick up a father and a son in their attempt at freedom.

While Juan is trying to escape and reunite with Carmela, her brother, Angel (Diego Wallraff) is trying to keep them apart. Further complicating the adventure is a cop, Lt. John Pirelli (Chazz Palminteri), who is falling in love with Carmela.

It is a sweet little comedy that Tomei does so well and worth spending some time with.