COOKIE

US, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Emily Lloyd, Peter Falk, Dianne Weist, Michael V.Gazzo, Brenda Vaccaro, Adrian Pasdar, Lionel Stander, Jerry Lewis, Bob Gunton, Rikki Lake.
Directed by Susan Seidelman.

Cookie, like its title, is an offbeat comedy about the Mafia. It is reminiscent of such comedies as Married to the Mob. It was written by Alice Arlen and Nora Ephron (Silkwood, Heartburn, When Harry Met Sally). It was directed by Susan Seidelman (Desperately Seeking Susan, Making Mr Right, She Devil). It has a very good cast with Peter Falk and Diane Weist doing their thing, English Emily Lloyd (Wish You Were Here, In Country) impersonating the Brooklyn teenager, Cookie.
The film is slight, an amusing Brooklyn family comedy, generation gap comedy, Mafioso comedy.

1.Pleasing comedy? The Mafia? Brooklyn and New York? The generations?

2.Atmosphere of Brooklyn, the streets? Atlantic City? The American highways? Special effects and stunts? Musical score, songs?

3.The title and the tone? The focus on Cookie and her attitudes and behaviour?

4.The opening, the exploding car, Dino's funeral and the people present, their grief?

5.The film as a portrait of Cookie, her Brooklyn background and style, Pia and her friends, buying the pink camera, in the subway, being chased by the police, in court, being taken out? Her relationship with her mother? Prospects?

6.The visit to her father in Sing Sing, chewing the gum, offhand towards him, the phone? His parole and her having to get a job? Working for Carmine, the relationship with Dominic, disliking them and her work? Her father getting out, the meeting at home, making eyes at her mother? The clashes? Going to the party, meeting Vito and attracted to him? Going out with her father? On the job - and wanting to leave?

7.Her driving skills, driving her father and eluding the pursuers? The growing bond between them? Going out with him, his photo in the papers? The plan, using herself as a decoy, with Dominic and the money in the car, the hold-up? Being taken to Arnold? The happy ending? Relationship with Vito? Dressed up at the funeral? Her smile at Enzo, the head of the Mafia chiefs? Her future?

8.Dino and his reputation, in jail, the appeal to the parole board, getting out, Bunny and the dogs, her home? Going to Lenore, in love with her, sexual relationship? Cookie? Lenore wanting him to go straight? The visit to Atlantic City, the outing, Lenore's loud voice? Discussions with Arnold, the discovery of the money deal and Carmine? His party, the toasts, his suspicions? Clashes with Carmine? Going to see all his friends, being photographed, the newspaper build-up? The discussions with Segreto, the plans for the death? The set-up, the discussions about the ring and the money, luring Carmine to the car? The explosion and the death of Carmine? His funeral being intercut with his wedding? The new identity in Minnesota?

9.Lenore, her devotion, in love with Dino, crying, her relationship with Cookie, her work? The headaches and the tears, being tough, demanding them to love each other, now? Wanting Dino to go straight? The end and the wedding?

10.Bunny and her abrasive style, the dogs, not giving him a divorce, the funeral and her suspicions?

11.Carmine, his deals, his son, their style, the party, the clashes, the set-up on the road, the robbery, Carmine in the car explosion?

12.Dominic, his rash style, inferior to his father, the ambush and his phone call?

13.Arnold and the deals, Jerry Lewis in this role, his participation in the tricks?

14.Segreto, the parole board, his ambitions, his staff, leaking photos to the newspapers, the deal with Dino, his assistants, the hold that Dino had over him because of the death of Carmine?

15.Vito, the young driver, infatuated with the girls, in love with Cookie, his disguise of the ambush, with her at the end?

16.The Capo and his role, his eye on Cookie at the funeral?

17.Humorous blend of realism and unreality? Comic perspectives on serious themes?