Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Nayan Gough A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

SimonJack Frank Pesce did not win $6.2 million in the 1976 Empire Stakes lottery in New York. He didn't win a penny because there wasn't such a lottery or drawing on that date. New York launched its Empire Stakes game in January 1977. But, scenes in "29th Street" clearly show a drawing for such a lottery on Christmas Eve of 1976. So much for this film being "based on a true story," as the IMDb storyline reads, and as the movie implies and so many reviewers seem to believe. People in general, and movie buffs especially, should be wary of a claim that a film is "based on a true story." That can mean anything. "Based on" might mean no more than keeping the title of a novel. Or, it might mean a thorough and accurate rendering of a book. Most often, it means something in between. Perhaps a story that has been altered in time, with events, with fictitious characters or accounts, and/or absent some events and people. In "29th Street." the only resemblance to reality may be some of the interplay in the Pesce family. But even that must be suspect. Newspaper articles in 1991 (L.A. Times and N.Y. Times) discussed this film and its origin with skepticism. After all, Pesce, who is a character actor, has given no personal details about himself or his family. The IMDb Web site doesn't even have his place and date of birth. So, the accuracy of the film build-up aside, how does this movie stand on its own? While the plot and premise of this story are strange and hard to believe, the script is good and the acting is very good. This is a story about a family that is dysfunctional, yet strongly bound in love. That is its endearing aspect. No matter what the situations, and no matter what the mistakes of one or more members, in the end they are bound by love. This is shown most often in the relationship between Frank Pesce senior and Frank junior, played by Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia, respectively. Their frequent arguments are laced with humor at times. Lainie Kazan is excellent as Mrs. Pesce, and Frank Pesce (the real Frank Pesce?) plays the older brother, Vito Pesce. The movie has considerable profanity and dodges all around questionable legal activities. It has something of a fairy-tale atmosphere about it. The idea for the story and film was concocted by Frank Pesce and his friend, actor James Franciscus. It was supposed to resemble Pesce's family when he grew up in a tough New York neighborhood of Italian and other ethnic families. Newspaper articles of the time liken parts of it to other films and sitcoms of the past. For a comparison of films based on real incidents, watch "It Could Happen to You" of 1994. That movie is about a New York cop who splits his winnings from a lottery ticket with a waitress. When he didn't have enough money to leave a tip, he gave her a choice of half his lottery ticket if he should win or double the tip when he comes back the next day. The film promotion says it was "inspired by" a real event or true story. And, it had a good basis. The real-life incident was in 1984 when New York policeman Robert Cunningham asked a waitress friend, Phyllis Penzo, to split a lottery ticket with him, in lieu of his leaving her a tip. Each picked three numbers and when Cunningham learned that his ticket had won $6 million, he honored his deal and split the money evenly with Penzo. Many reviewers enjoyed "29th Street" for its family depictions and nostalgic connections to growing up in similar neighborhoods. I can appreciate that. Some wondered why this movie hasn't had more play or isn't better known. Could it be because it was almost all fiction but seemed to imply and continues to be tagged as though it is based on real events?

lastliberal This is one of those films where you just stay glued to the story to see what happens next. It was completely 180 degrees from what I thought it was going to be.I was expecting a story about how the first New York State lottery winner dealt with his new riches, and what I found was the Italian-American version of It's A Wonderful Life.This movie has it all - mobsters (of course, it's about Italian-Americans), dysfunctional families, drinking and gambling, but, most of all, a whole lot of laughs.You just can't believe how incredibly lucky Frank Pesce (young Anthony LaPaglia) is. This guy sets stabbed in the gut and comes up roses. He is drifting about aimlessly in a family where dad (Danny Aiello in a super role) has a gambling problem. These two together are a riot! It even includes the real lottery winner, Frank Pesce. Lanie Kazan from My Big Fat Greek Wedding played a great Italian-American mom. Happy Mother's Day.You should check this out if you like Italian-American comedy. Capice?

newmanduke One of the top five movies I've ever seen. The movie is mainly about the strained relationship between a father and his son. The "I AM NOT A F****N' LOSAH!!!" scene alone is worth it. A classic scene in a classic movie. This is great stuff!

jfernand-1 Danny Aiello and Anthony LaPaglia are great as a 'nothing ever goes right' father and his dumb-luck son. I've seen scores and scores of films and this one ranks up there with some of the best. Goodfellas, for example, only lighter with much more humor. I found myself belly-laughing throughout this film. I can't believe this movie never got the push it deserved at the box office, most people I talked to never even heard of this movie before and that's a real shame. This is a movie that should be seen by the masses. The next time you find yourself wondering what film to rent, try 29th Street(if they have it) and you will not be disappointed.