Search - Paradise Alley on DVD

Entertaining Mess

David Baldwin | Philadelphia,PA USA | 01/08/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sly Stallone's directorial debut is a self-indulgent mess ripe with overwrought dialogue and broad characterizations. The film does not start out swimmingly with Stallone croaking the title song over the opening credits. Maybe Sly's intention was to make baby bro Frank, who makes an appearance here, look like a good singer. Those quibbles aside, this is an eminently likable film. Stallone may have been a little over his head here but it'a a nice try. You're never bored with this effort. His Cosmo Carboni is an affable schemer. He's ably supported by Armande Assante as the brainy Carboni brother and Lee Canalito as the brawn. A good supporting cast is assembled here with Anne Archer, Kevin Conway, Frank McRae, wrestler Terry Funk and singer Tom Waits. I wouldn't exactly call this a misfire because it is enjoyable. Nor is it your typical vanity project. Let's just call it an admirable endeavor on Stallone's part."

It's just okay

SpookyChick | in tha' world! | 05/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Well, well, my peepinheimers - this movie is a far cry from Sly at his best! I love Mr. Stallone and would recommend this to any fan because it is, in fact, his directorial debut. Also - singer Tom Waits made his acting debut AND actor Armand Assante had his first role of any significance (later, of course, he would work with Sly in the unfairly maligned "Judge Dredd"). Sly wrote the screenplay, too - based (and this is an often ignored fact) on his novel of the same name. That's right, the hardcover novel was published well in advance of the movie adaptation. Having read the novel several times (I still own my dog-eared hardcover first edition!), I can honestly say that the changes made for the movie were not beneficial. I wish that the screenplay had been truer to the novel - which had a greater emphasis on dark characterization instead of the overblown (and poorly staged) wrestling matches that dominate the latter portion of the movie. The book is more realistic, but I assume that Mr. Stallone was coerced by the commercial-minded movie producers to make the ending more traditionally "up-lifting."

Sly, it should be noted, also sings the opening credits song - and it should come as no suprise to those who saw him duetting with Dolly Parton in "Rhinestone" several years later, the man can actually sing. In some ways, I prefer Sly's singing voice to that of his successful hit-making brother, Frank; it's richer and more distinctive.

Ultimately, this movie is undone by a lack of focus. The story has many interesting threads, but too many of them are left unresolved by the end of the movie. Not that I expect all movies to finish up tidily with every little thing explained - a measure of ambiguity is welcomed. It's just that when it comes to an ambitious character piece like this, I would've rather had more exploration of the various relationships as opposed to a big rah-rah wrestling match."