City Island

Functional dysfunction

The Rizzos have problems. Patriarch Vince (played by a nuanced Andy Garcia) and his family aren’t talking to each other, and it’s clear things have been headed downhill for a while. The reappearance of Vince’s illegitimate son works as a sufficient catalyst to slowly bring the truth out of everyone, which leads to a satisfying if overly-determined conclusion.

Dysfunctional-family movies are more prevalent than comic book adaptations these days, but what recommends City Island over similar films is writer/director Raymond De Felitta’s casual, affectionate sense of humor, which never feels punched up for laughs. But aside from this, City Island offers few surprises and is content to leave audiences with a tidy, unquestioning view of traditional family values.