Review of Racing with the Moon

... in this nostalgic romance from Paramount Pictures and director Richard Benjamin. It's 1942, and two friends (Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage) are looking forward to induction into the Marine Corps and going off to fight in WWII. They waste their last few weeks of freedom chasing girls, playing pool, getting drunk and working at the local bowling alley. Penn meets a nice girl (Elizabeth McGovern) who may be more than just a good time, but dealing with life's circumstances may be more than their fledgling romance can endure. Nicely written, with a gentle directorial touch that smooths the sometimes difficult subject matter. The performances are all fine, with Cage standing out in one of his first substantial roles.