Brazilian Movie: Romeo and Juliet Get Married

Romeo and Juliet, at fever pitch


We begin our love match in fair Sao Paolo, with two households, both alike in fervor.

Willowy Juliet is from a family that worships Palmeiras, the Brazilian soccer squad clad in green. Square-jawed Romeo is a second-generation booster of Corinthians, the men in black. When Juliet meets Romeo, they are magnetically attracted. But will the ancient grudge between these teams - think Philadelphia Eagles versus Dallas Cowboys - repulse them when each learns of the other's allegiance?

In the spirit of Bend It Like Beckham and Fever Pitch, Bruno Barreto's diverting Romeo and Juliet Get Married weds romantic comedy with sports film. The resulting troth is as buoyantly funny as the actors.

Barreto is particularly fortunate in his Juliet, Luana Piovani, supermodel-slim and nimble as the soccer star her character longs to be. She possesses the loopy charm of the young Paula Prentiss, while Marco Ricca, who plays Romeo, charmingly shows the trouble that ensues when sleeping with the enemy. The sight of Palmeiras green makes his ardor wilt.

By no means is Romeo and Juliet a great movie. But it is great fun, and sometimes that's just the ticket.

DETAILS: Directed by Bruno Barreto with Berta Zemel, Leonardo Miggiorin, Luana Piovani, Luis Gustavo, Marco Ricca, Martha Mellinger, Mel Lisboa, and Renato Consorte.

posted by nscafuro @ 8:55 PM