We’re A Nice Normal Family | 3/5

SINGAPORE — Expectations for this film were naturally going to be sky high. After all, it’s directed by French action movie magnate Luc Besson, executive produced by the great Martin Scorsese and stars the inimitable Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer

Yes, it’s Married To The Mob once again. Or maybe not.

Unfortunately, this film is no hit, even with a premise that promises black comedy gold — a former mobster family in a witness protection programme in France who keep blowing their cover by “taking care” of the people who annoy them Mafioso-style.

With a messy script and clumsy plotting, this feels not as farcical or darkly twisted as you expect or hope it to be. Thank goodness for the excellent cast and their skills to save this from being a total waste of combined efforts. De Niro does more than simply mug for the camera (a nice change from his recent mediocre showings) while Pfeiffer is even better, effectively bringing together our memories of her Scarface and Married To The Mob experiences. But the ace in the hole has to be inclusion of the kids extraordinaires — Dianna Agron and John D’Leo — with their characters emerging as original and hilarious creations.

Sure, there is the pitch perfect trusty German Shepherd named Malavita (Italian for “organised crime”) and a perfectly meta Goodfellas in-joke, but you’ll still wish there were more genuine laughs in the entire film.

(M18, 112 mins)