The Perez Family | Rotten Tomatoes (original) (raw)

Skip to Main Content

Rotten Tomatoes Cancel

Movies in theaters

Movies at Home

More

Certified fresh picks

New TV Tonight

Most Popular TV on RT

More

Certified fresh pick

Columns

Guides

Hubs

RT News

Where to Watch Reviews Cast & Crew More Like This Photos Media Info

Anthony Puccinelli Chicago Reader These failures of taste are even more unfortunate because Nair and her cinematographer (Stuart Dryburgh of The Piano) have created a striking visual universe... Rated: 1/4 Jun 7, 2022 Full Review Manohla Dargis Spin Like Dottie herself, the film is all dressed up with nowhere to go. Apr 18, 2022 Full Review Anne Billson Daily Telegraph (UK) With non-Hispanic principal actors and Indian-born Mira Nair directing, this garish romance is a bit of an ethnic pot-pourri, but it's not quite as annoying as it sounds. Huston, in particular, gives it a touch of genuine class. Nov 27, 2017 Full Review Rene Rodriguez Miami Herald The conclusion rushes by without sufficient development: You feel like there's a scene or two missing. But the movie ends with such optimism and bittersweet nostalgia, it sends you out smiling. Rated: 2.5/4 Aug 18, 2021 Full Review Chuck O'Leary Fantastica Daily Rated: 3/5 Oct 6, 2005 Full Review Leonard Schwarz Palo Alto Weekly Rated: 2.5/4 May 20, 2003 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Member two Cubans in the 1980's are on their way to America to escape the oppresion and the political asylum they are played by Alfred Molina and Marisa Tomei; Molina is Juan Paul Perez and Tomei is Dorita Evita Perez the only way to get into the country is to pretend to be married although the one small detail is that Juan's actual wife,Carmela played by Angelica Houston is still waiting for him...for the last 20 years Immigration Services is often in the way too as they hope to get a sponsor for citizenship they are in a bit of a pickle now as both Juan and Dorita eventually start to develop actual feelings for one another who knew that creating a fake family could feel more real than the one left behind? it's kinda amazing too that for a Latino-based family most of the actors are actually white and the director is Indian native but he still manages to tell a lovable, unexpectedly touching story about how love can spring out of nowhere Juan doesn't want to go with the charade but Dorita will help them both in any way they can to avoid being deported back home Carmela is still blissfully waiting for Juan to come back to her although everyone else has given up saying she's delusional who knows if she's ready to move on? only so much time can pass in waiting when we can finally wake up to see that something is better for us all a very likable treat of a film Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Truly awful. Not funny or dramatic. It hurt to watch. I had high expectations because of the cast. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member two Cubans in the 1980's are on their way to America to escape the oppresion and the political asylum they are played by Alfred Molina and Marisa Tomei; Molina is Juan Paul Perez and Tomei is Dorita Evita Perez the only way to get into the country is to pretend to be married although the one small detail is that Juan's actual wife,Carmela played by Angelica Houston is still waiting for him...for the last 20 years Immigration Services is often in the way too as they hope to get a sponsor for citizenship they are in a bit of a pickle now as both Juan and Dorita eventually start to develop actual feelings for one another who knew that creating a fake family could feel more real than the one left behind? it's kinda amazing too that for a Latino-based family most of the actors are actually white and the director is Indian native but he still manages to tell a lovable, unexpectedly touching story about how love can spring out of nowhere Juan doesn't want to go with the charade but Dorita will help them both in any way they can to avoid being deported back home Carmela is still blissfully waiting for Juan to come back to her although everyone else has given up saying she's delusional who knows if she's ready to move on? only so much time can pass in waiting when we can finally wake up to see that something is better for us all a very likable treat of a film Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Very funny and a perfect story!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member Will help you sleep at night. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member My only knock on this movie was that it would have been nice if hollywood would have case Cubans to play the Cubans. Otherwise it's a pretty good movie. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Show LessCast & Crew Show MoreCast & Crew

Arizona Dream 87% 86% Arizona Dream Hangin' With the Homeboys 93% 67% Hangin' With the Homeboys Mad Dog Time 17% 51% Mad Dog Time Nothing to Lose 31% 68% Nothing to Lose Moonlight and Valentino 13% 53% Moonlight and Valentino Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

The Perez Family (1995) The Perez Family (1995) View more photos

Synopsis In the midst of the Mariel boat lift -- a hurried exodus of refugees from Cuba going to America -- an immigration clerk accidentally presumes that dissident Juan Raul Perez (Alfred Molina) and Dorita Evita Perez (Marisa Tomei) are married. United by their last name and a mutual resolve to emigrate, Dorita and Juan agree to play along. But it gets complicated when the two begin falling for each other just as Juan reunites with his wife, Carmela (Anjelica Huston), whom he hasn't seen in decades.

Director

Mira Nair

Producer

Lydia Dean Pilcher, Michael Nozik

Screenwriter

Christine Bell, Robin Swicord

Distributor

Samuel Goldwyn Company

Production Co

Samuel Goldwyn Company

Rating

R (Some Sexuality|Language)

Genre

Comedy, Drama

Original Language

English

Release Date (Theaters)

May 12, 1995, Wide

Release Date (Streaming)

Dec 7, 2017

Box Office (Gross USA)

$2.8M

Runtime

1h 52m

Sound Mix

Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now