Moonlight Mile MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -2

Dealing with the sudden death of their daughter Diane, Jo Jo and Ben Floss (Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman) seem to expect their daughters fianc, Joe Nast (Jake Gyllenhaal) to fill the void in their family. Tormented by his inability to open up to Jo Jo and Ben, Joe seeks solace in the company of a barmaid, Bertie (Ellen Pompeo). Sounds grim, doesnt it? Ironically, MOONLIGHT MILE has some very humorous moments as neighbors and friends in the small New England town hover around, asking insensitive questions and offering unwanted advice to the grieving family. For almost two hours, the emotional highs and lows of grieving and learning to let go can become tedious, but Oscar caliber performances may give it high marks at the box office.

Jo Jo and Ben show us the emptiness of going through death of a loved one without faith. In the opening scene, in a telephone conversation instructing the rabbi about the funeral service, Ben repeatedly exclaims, No God, no God, Rabbi. Later, when Jo Jo finally breaks down, she tells Joe that the hardest thing for her is I dont know where she is. Im scared for my baby. Bens guilt for failing as a father and a businessman manifests itself in bizarre behavior. And Joe too is helpless and emotionally numb as Jo Jo and Ben cling to him. He sneaks visits with Bertie and soon falls in love with her. They have one passionate love scene with sex implied. As they all learn to let go of the past, theres no hint of any spiritual awakening. With this sort of attitude, its not surprising that taking the Lords name in vain at least 16 times is treated as appropriate. At least 25 obscenities also pepper the dialogue. MOONLIGHT MILE condones premarital sex and uses profanities and obscenities in both casual conversation and emotional outbursts.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Buena Vista (Touchstone/ Disney), 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521