Mystic Pizza (1988)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writers (WGA):

Amy Holden Jones (story)
Amy Holden Jones (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic comedy with the works.

Plot:

Three teenage girls come of age while working at a pizza parlor in Mystic Connecticut.

Plot Keywords:

Sister | Pizza | Commitment | Marriage | New England

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Annabeth Gish	...	Kat Arujo
Julia Roberts	...	Daisy Arujo
Lili Taylor	...	Jojo
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Bill (as Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio)
William R. Moses	...	Tim Travers
Adam Storke	...	Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr.
Conchata Ferrell	...	Leona
Joanna Merlin	...	Mrs. Arujo
Porscha Radcliffe	...	Phoebe Travers
Arthur Walsh	...	Manny
John Fiore	...	Jake
Gene Amoroso	...	Mr. Barboza
Sheila Ferrini	...	Mrs. Barboza
Janet Zarish	...	Nicole Travers
Louis Turenne	...	Hector Freshette

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Night Life Inc.

Trivia:

This movie marks Matt Damon's feature film debut. Ben Affleck also auditioned for the role.

Goofs:

Continuity: Several times throughout the movie, Kat's sideburns change from short to long.

Quotes:

Daisy: Daddy banging the babysitter is a really old story, Kat; it happens all the time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in I Really Hate My Job (2007)

Soundtrack:

RESPECT

One of the best "chick flicks"

Movie about three young waitresses who work at Mystic Pizza in Mystic CT. Good girl Kat (Annabeth Gish)is going to college and falls in love with a married man (William Moses). Her sister, bad girl Daisy (Julia Roberts), falls in love with rich kid Charles (Adam Storke). And Jojo (Lili Taylor) is deeply in love with Bill (Vincent D'Onorfrio) but is afraid to marry him...which he wants.

Pretty predictable but still lots of fun. This was released with no fanfare in 1988 (Roberts was still unknown and there were no 'name' actors in the cast) and went on to become a surprise hit. That shouldn't be a shock--this is the type of movie that isn't really challenging or deep. You know the characters, you know the situations and you know it's going to have a happy ending. Still, there's nothing wrong with a film like that if it's entertaining and well-done--and this one is.

The script is lively and it was beautifully shot on location in CT (in Mystic and other towns). Gish is just great (and top-billed) in the movie. She was also 17 (the age of her character too) so it adds to the realism. Taylor is good but has little to do. Her character is very one note and ALWAYS yapping about commitment. Roberts is good but her character is TERRIBLE! Foul-mouthed, obnoxious and grating--her verbal abuse of her sister Kat is more than vicious. I really hated her! Nevertheless, this movie jump started her career. D'Onorfrio (a wonderful character actor) is given nothing to do but look handsome and hunky--which he does. Storke is VERY good-looking and gives a great performance as a rich kid--what ever happened to him? And Moses is just OK as a married man. Add Conchata Ferrell as the pizza store owner and Matt Damon in a one line role in his film debut.

A real nice, pleasing little movie. Perfectly catches the small town feeling too. Worth seeing. But don't let Roberts' face on the box fool you--it's NOT her movie.