At the Movies: 'The Amati Girls'

A family in which everyone thinks they know better than you what you should do with your life may ring true, but it makes for dreary viewing. <br><br>``The Amati Girls'' is a sappy, tedious look

Wednesday, January 17th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A family in which everyone thinks they know better than you what you should do with your life may ring true, but it makes for dreary viewing.

``The Amati Girls'' is a sappy, tedious look at four Italian-American sisters in Philadelphia who each take a different approach to marriage and commitment.

Of course, if anyone got along during this flat-footed compilation of Italian cliches, that would be news â€” and maybe even a good movie.

Mercedes Ruehl plays the oldest sister, Grace, a woman of deep faith and so goodhearted that she has become a doormat for her demanding husband (Paul Sorvino) and their teen-age children.

Sean Young is Christine, a mother struggling to decide whether she should divorce her workaholic husband (Jamey Sheridan).

Dinah Manoff is Denise, an artsy free spirit who has rejected the convention of marriage altogether, much to the dismay of her boyfriend (Mark Harmon).

And Lily Knight gives a moving performance as the youngest sister, Dolores, a mentally challenged girl/woman who wants nothing more than to find ``a real boyfriend'' like her sisters but is held back by her family's prejudices and fears.

Cloris Leachman rules the clan as Dolly, the girls' widowed mother.

Tensions arise when each sister makes and defends her choice in love â€” and tries to persuade the others to change.

``The Amati Girls'' does have some comic touches: when family members debate which saint to pray to, or when the Italian fathers overcome their homophobic fears to appear on stage with their daughters at a ballet recital.

There's also a running gag about Dolly being so used to organizing everything that she wants to pick out her casket and plan her funeral now, despite her fine health.

``The Amati Girls'' was written and directed by Anne DeSalvo and distributed by Providence Entertainment. It is rated PG for adult situations and runs 91 minutes.

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Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions:

G â€” General audiences. All ages admitted.

PG â€” Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

PG-13 â€” Special parental guidance strongly suggested for children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young children.

R â€” Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

NC-17 â€” No one under 17 admitted.