Queens Logic

Directed by: Steve Rash

RS: Not Rated Average User Rating: 2of 4 Stars

1991 Drama

Queens Logic

598 2-21-91
This one had promise. a wedding in Queens reunites five guys from the old neighborhood. Dennis (Kevin Bacon) has been in L.A. scrounging for jobs as a musician; Vinnie (Tony Spiridakis) is struggling as an actor in Manhattan; Al (Joe Mantegna) stayed in Queens, married Carla (Linda Fiorentino) and now runs a fish company and chases babes -- Grace (Jamie Lee Curtis) is his latest; Eliot (John Malkovich) is a homosexual who works for Al; and Ray (Ken Olin) is an artist who dreams of working in Italy. It's Ray who's getting hitched -- the bride-to-be is Patricia (Chloe Webb), a hairdresser who knows her man is getting cold feet.

Spiridakis not only acts but also wrote the script, which is based on his experiences growing up in Queens. A recent article in Premiere suggested that Spiridakis arrogantly exploited his childhood pals to make the movie. If so, the title is ironic, since it refers to friends supporting friends. Anyway, that's what they do in the movie. The gang pushes for Ray's wedding, helps mend Al's marriage and plays matchmaker for Eliot. Between the booze, the broads and the bonding, the boys even try to grow up.

It's a terrific cast -- with special cheers for Mantegna, Malkovich and Fiorentino -- deftly directed by Steve Rash (The Buddy Holly Story). And Spiridakis has a keen ear for dialogue. But what he also has is a sloppy sense of structure, a shameless weakness for sentiment and, seemingly, a conviction that being derivative doesn't matter. When Al climbs the Hell Gate Bridge in a dangerously futile attempt to prove he's still the fearless wonder of his youth, we're reminded of every coming-of-age movie from Andy Hardy to Avalon. Queens Logic suffers badly in comparison.