Kirstie Alley and Clancy Brown radiate the best chemistry as bored housewife Gloria and her over-worked, underpaid mailman husband Al Goodman. It's 1957 Brooklyn, in a fictitious housing project known as Radiant City. The summer heat has everyone sweltering, gossiping, and hanging out and about in the projects. Gloria, however, feels desperate and trapped. Her teen daughter is running around with "bad" boy Johnny, her young son Stewie is making unusual friends and getting into mischief. Al works the night-shift and it's even affecting their love life.
When a handsome beatnik blows into town (Gil Bellows) it turns the project on its ear. He sets his sights on Gloria. All she wants is a way out of the doldrums and she devises a plan to make her dreams come true. When her secret's exposed thanks to Stewie's loose lips, the entire project knows and it won't fare well for the housing Authority or Al.
Gloria stands up for herself in many ways. She shows beatnik Bert what a real man is, "He gets up, no matter how tired he is, and goes to work for her!" In a romantic kiss reminiscent of fifties movies she gains back the waning love and respect from Al and all is resolved happily as the family ascends to their dream of suburbia.
When a handsome beatnik blows into town (Gil Bellows) it turns the project on its ear. He sets his sights on Gloria. All she wants is a way out of the doldrums and she devises a plan to make her dreams come true. When her secret's exposed thanks to Stewie's loose lips, the entire project knows and it won't fare well for the housing Authority or Al.
Gloria stands up for herself in many ways. She shows beatnik Bert what a real man is, "He gets up, no matter how tired he is, and goes to work for her!" In a romantic kiss reminiscent of fifties movies she gains back the waning love and respect from Al and all is resolved happily as the family ascends to their dream of suburbia.