this film stand head and shoulder above the vast majority of cinematic romantic comedy . it be virtually flawless . the writing and acting and production design and humor and pathos be all wonderful . even the music from dean martin to la boheme be captivate and delightful . every character be peculiarly delightful and memorable and from the lead play by cher and nicolas cage and to the many support role olympia dukakis and vincent gardenia and john mahoney and danny aiello even grandpa with his dog pack . each of these performer and plus norman jewison a director and performs above their normal quality in this ensemble work . for several of the actor and this be an early major exposure in film and so the casting be also exceptional and we have many current act powerhouse whose career be alter by their effectiveness in this film . i have see this film several time all the way through which can sometimes deflate the impact of a film substantially . more tellingly and i realize some year ago that whenever i channel surf my way into a scene from this film any scene the scene be compel and beautifully craft . there be so many stunning and memorable scene the original meeting between the cher and nicolas cage character and where cage tell his tale of woe while vincent gardenia discover with his paramour at the opera and amidst the splendor generate by his gold mine plumbing business while olympia dukakis scold john mahoney for philander with his student in the classic line about liaison with co worker represent don not sh t where you eat . while danny aiello at his die mother bedside while nicolas cage take cher a the rapture of an aria soar in the background . there be of course many great romantic comedy and among them sabrina ( both version and but especially the audrey hepburn or humphrey bogart or william holden original ) while when harry meet sally while the apartment . none quite equal moonstruck .