The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers (WGA):

Ray Bradbury (short story)
Ray Bradbury (play)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Plot:

Gomez is a middle-aged man who dreams of buying a gorgeous white suit in a nearby store, but doesn't have enough cash...

Plot Keywords:

Kids And Family | Based On Play

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Joe Mantegna	...	Gomez
Esai Morales	...	Dominguez
Edward James Olmos	...	Vamanos
Clifton Collins Jr.	...	Martinez (as Clifton Gonzalez Gonzalez)
Gregory Sierra	...	Villanazul
Liz Torres	...	Ruby Escadrillo
Sid Caesar	...	Sid Zellman
Howard Morris	...	Leo Zellman
Lisa Vidal	...	Ramona
Mike Moroff	...	Toro
Mercedes Ortega	...	Celia Obregon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ansuya
Marie Caldare	...	Young woman on a date
Miranda Garrison	...	Wife
Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez	...	Landlord
Jose Hernandez	...	Mariachi
Bodie Olmos
Lesley Robins	...	Dancer
Gloria Rodriguez	...	Dancer
Michael Saad	...	Husband (as Mike Saad)
Renee Victor	...	Neighbor Dancer
Jovanna Vitiello	...	Actress

MPAA:

Rated PG for brief mild language.

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

The opening titles are done completely in sand animation.

Goofs:

Continuity: When they got the suit for the first time on the mannequin, notice that the shirt is of different color and there is no neck tie. But after that there is a white shirt and tie!

Quotes:

Toro: [to Vamanos, enraged] Hey, idiot! I'm gonna kill you, wake you up and kill you again!

Movie Connections:

Version of "Rendezvous: The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (#1.5)" (1958)

A wonderfully uplifting sentimental fantasy from the pen of Ray Bradbury

This gem of a movie only came to my attention because of a back-problem I had suffered a couple of years ago. My Blockbuster store only had 2 copies in, and they were way down on the bottom-most shelf. Since my back had seized in more-or-less a bending stance, it was in the perfect position to catch my eye, and is now one of my favourite films.

It's always great to see Gregory Sierra (Barney Miler, Soap) act, and his portrayal of urban-poet Villanazul illustrates the breadth of his stage and screen presence, most notable during the masterful recitation of his character's work.

Edward James Olmos is barely recognizable in the early parts of the film, hidden beneath the accumulated grime and stink of the vagrant Vamanos. But after the transformation of a bath, shave, haircut and the magic of the white suit, Vamanos shines as bright as any of the others on their best day.

The sequences focusing on Esai Morales, Joe Mantegna and Clifton Gonzales Gonzales round out the fun with music, comedy and a little bit of drama as Mantegna's Gomez struggles with his greed and the thought of betraying his friends. In the end, the suit works it's charm on his conscience and sentimentality.

This is one of the best films released in 98 in my opinion. Don't miss it...