Maria NeCastro

For The Maine Campus

The Manzoni family is like a lot of American families — a strong father, loving mother, two kids, and a loyal dog — but there is something that sets them apart from everyone in their town. Giovanni Manzoni, played by Robert De Niro, is a former mob boss who became an informant to the F.B.I. and now lives under the close watch of the witness protection program.

The film, based on the novel “Malavita” by French author Tonino Benacquista, begins with the Manzoni family moving to Normandy, France and becoming the Blake family. In their new surroundings, the Blakes attempt to assimilate, but when they don’t get what they want, they hilariously seek revenge. A perfect example of this is when mother and wife Maggie, played by Michelle Pfieffer, sets a local grocery store on fire after receiving less than satisfactory customer service.

The family dynamic is perfect with “Glee’s” Dianna Agron as the charming and fearless 17-year-old daughter, Belle, and John D’Leo as the brilliant and manipulative 14-year-old son, Warren.

Belle’s storyline is where the quintessential love story of the movie comes into play. While she is a total badass who can stand up for herself — and she certainly does when she knocks out a boy who tries to make a sexual advance toward her — she also has a soft and loving side, displayed when she falls for her math tutor.

D’Leo is unforgettable as Warren, who appears in the start of the film to be the social wallflower type. By the end of the film, however, the kid runs his school. The casting of the Manzoni/Blake children is spectacular, as both young actors prove their ability to portray characters that have been brought up in a mafia family.

Though it may seem a bit unbelievable for the now 70-year-old De Niro to be playing the father of teenagers, his portrayal as the head of the Manzoni/Blake family proves to be the best possible casting for the role. It may seem unoriginal for De Niro to play the lead in a mob movie, but the actor has the typecast role down to a science.

While leading lady Michelle Pfeiffer, 55, makes for a convincing wife and mother, she seems to be the weakest link in terms of acting as someone who once had close ties with the mob. Her “mob wife” accent ranges from offensive to awful to undetectable.

Along those same lines of senior actors, Tommy Lee Jones, 67, portrays a surly F.B.I. agent on the Manzoni case in a way that is unmatchable by the up-and-coming stars of Hollywood. Case in point, his monotone delivery of this gem that sums up his relationship with the Manzonis: “Welcome to France. Try to fit in — I’m getting tired of finding you a new place to live every 90 days.”

This movie is billed as being action, comedy and crime, but it might be easier to call it a “dramedy” spiced-up with some well-integrated violence. Either way, what makes this dark comedy worth watching happens to be the way the family behaves in the time warp-esque town in Normandy.

Despite the fact that some smaller storylines in the Sept. 13 release are left unfinished, the overall plot of the story is entertaining with its ironic humor and honest performances.

Grade: B+