Most critics respond warmly to Moonstruck, with praise clustering around John Patrick Shanley’s dialogue and an ensemble that makes the family’s romantic entanglements feel affectionate and credible. Cher draws particular approval, while Olympia Dukakis and Vincent Gardenia receive attention for the supporting performances that give the comedy much of its warmth. The reviews also credit Norman Jewison’s direction and timing with keeping the film’s eccentric humour, family tensions and more poignant moments in balance.
The spread is largely favourable, with reservations concentrated in a more muted response rather than outright rejection. Time Out finds the observation of Italian-American customs and sexism more persuasive than the romance, and regards Nicolas Cage as less convincing than his fellow performers. The Hollywood Reporter, by contrast, includes Cage among the ensemble’s strengths. The main disagreement is over how convincingly the film handles romantic passion; its dialogue, character detail and family comedy attract broader approval.