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Parents' Guide to

Married to the Mob

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Dated '80s mob comedy is so-so; some cursing, nudity.

Movie R 1988 104 minutes
Married to the Mob Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

3Leaves
3Leaves Adult
February 2, 2021
age 15+

"Hello, Gorgeous!"

Enclosed in this overlooked little jewel of a movie is the most romantic scene in movie history. (Well, maybe second to James Stewart and Donna Reed in "It's a Wonderful Life"). Melding Italian mobsters with a screwball romantic comedy and a cool new wave vibe is something only director Jonathan Demme could pull off. It pulses along to the coolest late 80s soundtrack ever featuring New Order and Brian Eno. Top comedic ensemble acting led by Matthew Modine, smooths over the blatant Italian stereotypes, which function more like a parody of mobster movies (which makes for a good talking point with young viewers.) You'll be rooting for under-confident heroine Angela (the luminous Michelle Pfeiffer) as she finds her inner stength, evolving to trust her heart when it comes to prioritizing her young son and ultimately herself. Good messages here for young adults about thinking for themselves carefully instead of just going along with the "mob."

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
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What's the Story?

Even after her Mafioso husband dies, she's still MARRIED TO THE MOB. Angela (Michelle Pfeiffer) wants nothing more to do with the ruthless Russo crime family, so she gives away everything she has and goes into hiding in a tiny, run-down New York City apartment. But boss Tony Russo (Dean Stockwell) won't let her go that easily. The FBI then coerces Angela into spying on Tony, putting her right back into the hornets' nest just as she and Agent Mike Downey (Matthew Modine) start falling for each other. Will Angela ever be free, and can she forgive Mike's betrayal?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The strong cast is the main attraction in Jonathan Demme's otherwise so-so '80s mob comedy. Unfortunately, the actors in Married to the Mob aren't enough to overcome a script that can't seem to decide how funny it wants to be, unless you count the dated '80s fashions as a character, too. Michelle Pfeiffer is charmingly strong and vulnerable at the same time, but watch out for the scene-stealing Dean Stockwell and Mercedes Ruehl.

It's good for a few chuckles, but no real laughs, and the predictable plot is not very compelling. There's not much for teens to relate to, but Pfeiffer's performance make Angela easy to root for. There are worse choices for a popcorn movie parents can watch with their teens who are old enough for the mature content, but there are a lot of better ones, too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Married to the Mob. How much is OK for kids to see?

  • How about the strong language? Was it realistic? Is it a big deal?

  • The scene with nudity is pretty brief. Does that make it OK for kids to see? What does it add, or take away from, the movie overall?

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