Holy Matrimony *** (1994, Patricia Arquette, Tate Donovan, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Schuck, Lois Smith) – Classic Movie Review 1463

Director Leonard Nimoy’s 1994 comedy stars Patricia Arquette as Havana, a feisty car thief, who, with husband Pete (Tate Donovan), robs a county fair of its daily receipts and escapes to Canada to hide from the FBI in a strict Hutterite religious community. How she ends up married to Pete’s 12-year-old brother Zeke (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), whose mission is to reform her, is the gist is the plot.

This easy-going message comedy, obviously inspired by Witness (1985), is always genial company, has some good simple laughs and means well. But alas it doesn’t always quite hit the spot, is never really credible and all too soon runs out of full steam.

Nevertheless, both the director and the performers work really hard to keep it going and both Arquette and Gordon-Levitt are very appealing, sharing good screen chemistry, while Armin Mueller-Stahl adds authority as Uncle Wilhelm. And, with all its faults, it remains likeable and all ends up quite sweet and charming enough.

John Schuck, Lois Smith, Courtney B Vance and Jeffrey Nordling co-star.

Also in the cast are Richard Riehl, Mary Pat Gleason, Alaine Byrne, Dan Cossolini, Lori Alan, Jess Schwidde, and Frank Novak.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1463

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