The Engagement Ring (2005)

Who payed the critics

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

This is a very refreshing movie. The story is good and the characters are well developed. A very entertaining romantic comedy. Tells the story of two Italian families. One of them, the "De Rosa" wants to buy the "Di Cenzo" land to make a blend of grapes to produce a wine. The is a history between the families for a engagement ring lost in the postal office which makes the unwilling one to sell the land and the other one to buy it. Sara De Rosa, talks to Tony Di Cenzo to try to convince his uncle to sell his part of the land but he says that he will only sell the land if she ( Alicia Rosa Anselmi) returns the ring to him in his hands.This proves to be not so easy to be done. First the is the husband(who is very suspicious of the love of Alicia for him) who thinks that is a consolation price because she never gives hi, "the look".Then the is Sara's boyfriend and fiancé Brian who is talking in the cell phone all the time. Last but not least Tony Di Cenzo is a young man who finds that Sara is more interesting and beautiful than usual.While they try to arrange the meeting of the two families, in the cooking, the wine drinking and the recipes they find love.

If you've loved at all in your life, you'll enjoy this film. Actually, you'll enjoy it anyway, but you'll understand every nuance if you've been in love. This movie dances with every emotion and dynamic one experiences in a relationship of any substance; love, hatred, anger, betrayal, hurt, humor, power struggles, pride, fear. It's all wrapped up tightly in this movie and presented in a tender, subtle, yet gripping way that engages the viewer and gently holds your attention until the end. The acting is great, the emotions are real, and the presentation is lively, interesting, and even informative. I can't remember when I've seen a better balanced film; each role is important in piecing the message together and everyone involved does a great job. Very enjoyable. I challenge anyone to view this film without laughing and shedding a tear.

I found The Engagement Ring to be one of the most enjoyable movies I've seen in a long time. The actors were perfectly cast in the roles and the storyline was quite amusing. It centers around an engagement ring that was lost in the mail 40 years before. When found, it is sent on its way. When the intended finally receives it, she does not immediately feel sadness for what might have been, but continues to allow her 40 year old bitterness free reign. That is where the movie becomes unpredictable and funny.Though I would have liked it more if the fighting had not occurred, the story would not have been nearly as interesting. And the younger couple would not have had the chance to get together. All in all, I'd recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a romance with a twist.

Enjoyed viewing this picture from beginning to end and how two families growing grapes in Napa Valley could have such a strong love and hate relationship. The entire cast of actors gave outstanding performances and I thought that Patricia Heaton,(Sara Rosa) showed her real talents and even rode a horse around the vineyards. This engagement ring was given with great love and in a way, caused a great deal of hatred for many many years among these two families. There is lots of humor, drama and cute romance with husband and wife and some live together couples, getting to know each other. I really think this story of these two famines should be made into a TV series, or at least make up a TV program using most of these fantastic actors.