Perez Family, The

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +2

Content: -1 1/2

During the 1980 surge of Cuban refugees into the United States, the lives of Juan (Alfred Molina) and Dottie (Marisa Tomei), two of the refugees, become intertwined. Juan has come to Miami to find his wife, Carmela (Angelica Huston), who escaped Cuba 20 years earlier before Castro took power. In the meantime, Juan was a political prisoner until his exile in 1980. Dottie wants to come to the United States to make her fortune. The immigration authorities assume that Juan and Dottie are married since both have the last name of Perez. While Juan tries to find his wife, Dottie tries to date an American and find true love. At the same time, Juan's wife Carmela has given up hope of ever seeing Juan again and starts seeing a local F.B.I. officer, John (Chazz Palminteri). The tangled web of relationships becomes even more complicated as Juan and Dottie start to fall in love. Though the movie is filled with wonderful music, it is not enough to save the slow-moving THE PEREZ FAMILY.

To support the Latin-lover image promoted by Hollywood, much of the film centers around Dottie's suggestive prancing around in skimpy outfits. Although there is no sexual intercourse shown, passionate encounters between Dottie and a security guard and Dottie and Juan are apparently supposed to “spice up” the movie, and sex is implied once. Fortunately, there is no nudity in these scenes but Dottie ends up sleeping with Juan. Also, she does refuse the security guard's offer to pay her for sex. Several sexually suggestive remarks, as well as a woman sensually grabbing a man's crotch, are tasteless and offensive. Rear male nudity is shown once in the shower and several times when a crazy old man runs around naked. A few obscenities and several profanities needlessly find their way into the dialogue. There is very little violence and less foul language than usual in this R-rated film, but THE PEREZ FAMILY's underlying theme that it's acceptable to ignore your wedding vows if you find another love cannot be commended.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Co., 10203 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067-6403

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Few (2) times - Mild 1, Moderate 1

Obscene Language: Few (3) times - (f-word 1, s-word 2)

Profanity: Several times - Regular 5 (J,G, G-d)

Violence: Few times - Moderate (2 men punch each other in the face; A boy killed, off-screen)

Sex: None, but implied once, no nudity

Nudity: Several times (male rear nudity)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Many times - (revealing clothing, references to intercourse, several suggestive kissing scenes)

Drugs: None

Other: Message that true love found outside marriage should be followed.

Running Time:
Intended Audience: Adults

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