SnoopyStyle It's 1942. Henry 'Hopper' Nash (Sean Penn) and Nicky (Nicolas Cage) are small town best friends drafted into the Marines. With deployment weeks away, they work at the local bowling alley setting pins and chase girls. Hopper is infatuated with rich newcomer Caddie Winger (Elizabeth McGovern) but she's secretly the maid's daughter. Nicky gets Sally Kaiser pregnant and needs $150 for the abortion. Hopper and Nicky get beaten by Navy sailors after trying to hustle them playing pool. Hopper asks Caddie for the money.The first half is a slow coming-of-age romance. The second half takes some more intense turns. The problem is that Sally don't have much screen time before then. The movie doesn't invest that much in her plight. This is about Hopper and Caddie. Ultimately, it's a device to get at their own story. It's nice to see these great actors in their youth and there is a bitter sweet romance here.

bandw This story takes place in a small California town in 1942 and concentrates on two teenage boys, Henry (Sean Penn) and Niky (Nicolas Cage), and their girlfriends and family in the weeks prior to their joining the war effort. Many lighthearted scenes are interwoven with some serious ones. For viewers of a certain age this movie will evoke much nostalgia. Whoever produced the look and feel of the era got it just about right and, no matter your age, that should be appreciated. I particularly liked the recreation of a bowling alley of the time before automatic pinsetters, when surly pin boys would confront bowlers who did not respect the rules of etiquette. A period locomotive plays a central role in several scenes-- it is a gateway between the town and the outside world and reminds us that the boys will be taken from their youthful concerns to life-changing experiences in faraway places.As are many close friendships between two men, one is the more serious (Henry) and the other is a little reckless and wild (Niky). I thought Sean Penn did well in giving Henry an authenticity that is rarely granted to teenage characters in movies. Henry is not a delinquent nor is he a straight arrow, he is a young man dealing with the normal issues of coming of age in a difficult time. I particularly liked Henry's relationship with his family that allowed his parents to be seen as sincere relatable adults rather clueless bumblers. Nicolas Cage sparkles as Niky and Elizabeth McGovern is the perfect 1940s beauty as Henry's love interest Caddie. The casting director should be congratulated.There is an abortion scene that is character-revealing and makes a strong case for the value of the Roe vs. Wade decision.Some scenes seemed too scripted for humorous or dramatic effect, like the pool hustling scene and the scene where Caddie, who has never played the piano, is able to quickly pick up playing to accompany a surprisingly competent Henry on a piece.Well filmed, often engaging, this is worth seeing.

atlasmb Henry (Sean Penn) and Nicky (Nicholas Cage) are best friends who attend high school together. It's 1942 and all of life seems like a prelude to their induction into the Marines. They share all the adventures of young men on the threshold of adulthood. But Nicky is irresponsible, never seeming to consider the consequences of his actions.Henry meets Caddie (Elizabeth McGovern), a classmate who lives in a nice house on a hill. In this coming of age story, Henry finds that he has adult feelings for Caddie. She helps teach him about life's consequences.I know some viewers are not fans of Sean Penn, Nicholas Cage or Elizabeth McGovern, so any one of them in a cast might discourage someone from viewing this film. Personally, I am a fan of Elizabeth McGovern. And I have seen excellent performances from the two men, even if I do not embrace the body of their work. In "Racing with the Moon", each of them is well suited for his part. I think most who appreciate period pieces like "Stand by Me" or "The Summer of 42" will enjoy this film.With direction by Richard Benjamin, RWTM really captures the feeling of the times, when America was so enveloped by patriotism and somewhat naïve about its place in the world. In just three more years, the worldview would change with the advent of nuclear weaponry. The music in the film really helps create the tone of the times. I enjoyed this film, particularly because of the relationship between the two young lovers.

caspian1978 We never get to see the two main characters in the movie go to War. This world war 3 setting coming of age drama is not so much about the war over in Japan but the war on the home front. Growing up in 1943 in small town California, searching for love and meaning. Sean Penn is great in his role. Even more, Nicolas Cage is better as his close friend and side kick. Whether for comic relief of ream moments of edgy drama, Cage delivers. Also, a surprise in the movie is the performance of Elizabeth McGovern who is always beautiful. The three quickly discover life as they grow up before the two boys are shipped out to the Pacific. Michael Madsen and Crispin Glover pop into the movie with small roles. A nice movie, I wasn't expecting much until the movie started. It is a guarantee crowd pleaser.