I Love You to Death 1990

In the Pacific Northwest city of Tacoma, Washington, Italian American Joey Boca (character name) embodies the paradox of a man torn between his outward appearance of devotion and the darker reality of his infidelity. Within the sacred confines of a confessional, Joey confesses to a priest that he has been unfaithful to his wife Rosalie on at least seven separate occasions over the past fortnight. The weight of his transgressions bears down upon him, as he struggles to recall the precise details of each encounter. Despite seeking absolution, Joey’s remorse is tempered by a seeming lack of regret for his actions.

As the proprietor of a popular pizzeria with Rosalie, their marriage has been marked by years of stability and the raising of two children. The Bocas also own an apartment building, which serves as a convenient repository for Joey’s various paramours. His role as the building’s manager allows him to provide discreet “maintenance services” that go beyond mere plumbing repairs.

Meanwhile, Devo, a young employee at the pizzeria, harbors a secret crush on Rosalie, who is significantly older than he. Desperate to awaken her to Joey’s infidelity, Devo implores Rosalie to reconsider her loyalty and recognize the futility of her devotion. Despite being oblivious to Joey’s extramarital escapades, Rosalie has unwavering faith in his fidelity, attributing his frequent evening excursions to a well-deserved respite from the demands of their busy life.

Rosalie’s Yugoslavian mother, Nadja, harbors a deep-seated dislike for Joey’s domineering nature. She is dismayed by the expectations he places upon Rosalie, who must balance her responsibilities at the pizzeria with her domestic duties and childcare obligations. The dynamic between Joey and his mother-in-law is marked by tension and resentment.

As the narrative unfolds, Rosalie discovers Joey in a compromising position among the shelves of their local library. This shocking revelation sparks a maelstrom of emotions within her, ultimately giving rise to a deep-seated hatred for the man she once loved. In a dramatic turn of events, Rosalie seeks the counsel of her mother, and together they concoct a plan to exact revenge upon Joey.

As a series of attempts to eliminate Joey prove futile, his loved ones are left scratching their heads. Initially, Nadja hires a mysterious figure to dispatch Joey with a baseball bat, but his quick reflexes allow him to escape unscathed. Undeterred, she resorts to more elaborate means, trying to blow up his car using her mechanical expertise. However, the bomb fails to detonate, leaving Joey none the wiser. Later, Nadja and Rosalie concoct a plan to lace Joey’s spaghetti with powerful sedatives, hoping to render him helpless. Though Joey indulges in multiple large bowls, he merely suffers from a stomach cramp and attributes it to a virus. The trio decides that only a lethal force will finally take out Joey, but both Rosalie and Nadja are unable to bring themselves to pull the trigger. They turn to Devo, imploring him to demonstrate his devotion to Rosalie by taking matters into his own hands. Reluctant and nonviolent, Devo is unable to gaze upon Joey while pulling the trigger, resulting in a wound behind Joey’s ear. Refusing to try again for his beloved Rosalie, Devo instead hires two bumbling acquaintances, cousins Harlan and Marlon James, to take out Joey at a bargain price of $500. When Marlon’s cowardice causes him to absent himself from the attempt, Harlan takes aim, shooting Joey through the chest but missing his heart. Joey rises from bed, complaining of a headache and chest pains. A medical examiner later reveals that the sleeping pills have slowed down Joey’s metabolism, allowing him to avoid bleeding out.

Meanwhile, a convict at the bar where the would-be assassins were hired spills the beans about their plan. When the police arrive on the scene, they find Joey, wounded but unaware of his gunshot wound and poisoning. He is taken to the hospital, where Rosalie, her mother, Devo, and the James cousins are subsequently arrested. In a surprising turn of events, Joey decides not to press charges and bails everyone out of jail. As he waits for Rosalie with flowers and chocolates in hand, he crosses paths with the James cousins, making amends. When he finally sees Rosalie again, he asks her to take him back, but she remains offended, fleeing from his advances. Joey eventually catches up to her in a janitors’ closet, where they rekindle their love with intimacy, much to Devo’s dismay and the surprise of Rosalie’s mother.