Word: gino
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Things Change is actually two movies, one framed within the other. The outer plot is the story of Gino (Don Ameche), an old shoe-shine man who agrees to take the fall--and endure a three-to five-year prison sentence--in place of a mobster accused of murder. In return, he is to be paid enough money upon his release to realize his lifelong dream of owning a boat. Inept mob gofer Jerry (Mantegna) must babysit Gino until the court date. The plot turns on whether Jerry can keep Gino from changing his mind and escaping from his Chicago...
...second plot begins when Jerry, feeling sorry for his charge, decides to allow Gino a last fling, taking him to Lake Tahoe, in secret defiance of his orders. Once there, Jerry manages to convince everyone that Gino is a mafia don--so important that you should feel ashamed if you have to ask who he is--and suddenly, Gino and Jerry find themselves VIP guests with a spacious hotel suite and an unlimited credit line at a Tahoe casino. This inner plot hinges on the question of how long Gino can keep up the deception, a feat made...
Jame Lee Curtis makes use of what little opportunity she gets to create depth of character in Jennifer Reston, the rich medical student who is Gino's love interest. As Jennifer, she tries to be nice to Nicky and caring to Gino. Local viewers may find Jennifer particularly cute in the crimson Harvard sweatshirt with white lettering sold at the Coop but will gain little else from Curtis' part in the film. Curtis does not really detract from the movie, but she does not contribute much either...
...enjoyable to watch as Larry, the seedy self-styled ladies' man. Larry, tries to expose Nicky to women, alcohol and music. But Larry is the nicest *** you have ever seen, as he takes Nicky out for a night on the town after an emergency at the hospital keeps Gino away on the twins' birthday...
Mimi Cecchini gives a good performance as the matronly Mrs. Gianelli, who provides pasta and advice for the twins. After one of Nicky's blunders upsets Gino, she observes, "He's a beautiful boy, Eugene. He's God's boy." Tom Signorelli is funny as the priest to whom devoutly Catholic Nicky turns. He comforts Nicky on the loss of his dog with, "Mrs. Gianelli told me about Fred. I'm sorry. They go to Heaven too, you know...