Rating: 
Summary: Academy Award? No. Enjoyable picture? Absolutely
Review: Let's take 'Mambo Italiano' for what it's worth: a very enjoyable film stocked with a lot of laughs, but also poignant because there's no doubt that the tale has been pulled from the real life experiences of playright Steve Galluccio.While leads Luke Kirby ('Angelo') and Peter Miller ('Nino') don't stand out in any way, it's Paul Sorvino and Ginette Reno as Angelo's parents who will stick with you. Yes, as others have noted, these are highly stereotypical portrayals. But it's Gaulluccio's life and *he* wrote the characters that way. Obviously, he's played it up a bit, but that gives Reno (and especially) Sorvino big meaty roles that they can really sink their teeth into. Watching Paul Sorvino is a treat. He's the kind of guy who could read the phone book to you with panache. I also completely loved Mark Camacho's over-the-top, hilariously profane take as TV exec Johnny Christofaro. In a series of episodes that could again only have been drawn from playright Galluccio's real life experiences, the Christofaro character - in what can best to described as a series of 'friendly' profane explosions - rips into the writer, belittling his work, tearing down his confidence, but then finishing his tirade every time with an upbeat, sincere "How's your Mom?" Once Angelo hits the big time, there's Christofaro on an interview show in a classic exchange, remembering how he always encouraged Angelo to 'never give up' (replete with a series of now characteristic F bombs). Nothing could be further from the truth of course, which is what makes it so funny. Great writing. A hidden gem: look for Galluccio appearing as 'himself' (in a way) - he's the 'TV version' of Angelo in the sitcom-within-the-movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Family Passion and Poignant Fun
Review: Looking for an excellent portrayal of a family's love for one another? Mambo Italiano is certainly that! Being both poignant and fun, this DVD is simply superb!
Rating: 
Summary: Quickfire comedy-drama aims for broad audience
Review: MAMBO ITALIANO (Canada 2003): Tired of living in denial, an aspiring gay writer (Luke Kirby) comes out to his hyper-emotional Italian parents (Paul Sorvino and Ginette Reno), causing a rift with his deeply closeted boyfriend (Peter Miller) who feels compelled to reassert his masculinity. With a woman... Directed by Emile Gaudreault, who co-wrote the script with Steve Galluccio based on the latter's stageplay, MAMBO ITALIANO has all the verve and panache of a 1930's screwball comedy, complete with quickfire dialogue and finely-judged comic performances. Not being Italian, this reviewer isn't in a position to judge whether the OTT characters are stereotypes or just witty send-ups, a comic exaggeration of reality, but industry vet Sorvino and legendary French-language chanteuse Reno steal the show as Kirby's constantly bickering parents, prone to making wild dramas out of the smallest problems, which has the unfortunate side-effect of making Kirby himself seem a little too laidback in comparison. The narrative seems aimless at times, veering between comedy and drama and all points in between, but there are plenty of distractions along the way, including Claudia Ferri as Kirby's therapy-addicted sister, Mary Walsh as Miller's scheming mama, and Miller himself, a gorgeous grade-A hunk of the highest order, around whom much of the plot revolves. It's pretty superficial overall, and mainstream gay cinema needs another romantic comedy like HALLOWEEN needs another sequel, but MAMBO ITALIANO does much to ingratiate itself with the broadest possible audience, though the unconventional 'happy' ending may undermine the experience for some viewers. Cinematographer Serge Ladouceur employs a vivid color scheme which lights up the screen throughout, but the compositions are fairly unadventurous, and the movie plays better on TV than it probably did in theaters. Columbia TriStar's DVD is exceptional in terms of picture and sound quality, but there are no extras whatsoever, not even a trailer. There are trailers for OTHER movies, but not this one. The film stands or falls on its own merits, I suppose, but the lack of supplemental material is dispiriting. 89m 3s
1.85:1 / Anamorphically enhanced
DVD soundtrack: Dolby 5.1
Theatrical soundtrack: Dolby Digital
Optional English subtitles and closed captions
Region 1
Rating:
Summary: Cute...but nothing more
Review: Mambo Italiano does for the Italians what My Big Fat Greek Wedding did for the Greeks. Only this time, the couple is gay. Both portrayed the typical cultural stereotypes, and both came off cute but not lasting. Mambo Italiano deals with a typical Italian family living in Little Italy in Canada. When their son moves out, moves in with his lover, and then comes out to his family, all hell breaks loose. The movie tries to be a laugh a minute comedy, but the true comedy comes from Luke Kirby who does an outstanding job. He is the only character with real comedy and emotion, and he lights up the screen in all his scenes. It is easy to see why he was cast in the lead. Mambo Italiano isn't a movie that inspires, but it's perfect after a long day after work to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a few chuckles.
Rating:
Summary: Heartwarming Comedy Italian Style
Review: Mambo Italiano is first and foremost a comedy about the gay, Italian-(North)American experience. It's main premise centers around the all important Italian family dynamic making the family proud and being proud of the family even in times of conflict - which can be quite frequent. The characters of this comedy start as stereotypes but ultimately are very real people. The performances by the actors are uniformly strong. The film overall deals with very real, very serious issues of coming out gay in a straight, unaccepting environment. But the film is first a comedy that deals with these issues with outrageous humor. The movie sticks to task and remains tight. Unlike other recent hit indi ethnic dramas, Mambo does not rely on a "wedding device" to pull at your heart and draw you in. It entertains and touches by depict a real family dealing with real issues with great humor. Lastly the lush, technicolor set designs are enough reason to see this film, but it remains a must for any gay, Italian-North American or for anyone who loves being part of a family.
Rating:
Summary: My Big Fat Greek Wedding for Gay Italians : )
Review: Mambo Italiano was very reminiscent of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, in a good way. It has very lovable, quirky, and humorous, yet flawed supporting characters--much in the same way of Greek Wedding, and also really played off of the cultural expectations of its characters. Mambo is able to do what few gay movies choose to do: get a point across in a humorous, light-hearted, genuine way. You care about the main characters and relate to them. It definitely has an agenda (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and focuses on the difficulty of coming out to family, friends, and self (which is overdone in gay cinema), but manages not to be over-powering, and can, at times, even be a little too much fluff. Overall, though, it is a great, fun movie, if you simply want to be light hearted, enjoy a cute, lovable movie with your boy on a couch eating popcorn and snuggling on a rainy afternoon.
Rating:
Summary: This is cute and funny.
Review: Maybe it's a little contrived, and maybe the stereotypes of Italian parents get stretched a little thin, but the end result is funny and likeable.
Poor Angelo is gay, against his parents' every wish, and everyone in the world seems to know it but them. Because this is a comedy, his bashing in high school is treated lightly, but you get the real sense that his life hasn't been easy.
Into his life falls Nino, his sometimes-friend in school and now a very hot cop. They fall for each other and move in together. Angelo is deliriously happy, but Nino still clings to his comfortable closet. Their families make things worse.
I empathized with both Angelo and Nino and felt the characters were well developed. Although I ultimately was disappointed in Nino (and surprised at his hard-heartedness) I can understand his choices.
Paul Sorvino is one of my favorite actors, and plays the father with great sincerity as well as humor. Angelo's sister is captivating, if a little frustrating, and Nino's mother is wonderful too.
Great story, great characters, good pace. The movie avoids being trite or preachy, and ends satisfyingly enough.
It's hard making tough issues like family and being gay humorous without trivilizing them. This movie mostly succeeds. Recommended overall.
Rating:
Summary: great find!
Review: Much better than My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My Big Fat Greek Wedding was a little slow at times and something was lacking in the script, but Mambo Italiano is just perfect, and yet it wasn't heard of much. Maybe because it wasn't produced by Mrs. Hank.
Rating: 
Summary: All the right ingredients..........but the cake didn't rise
Review: Sad. MAMBO ITALIANO had all the pre-release press and convinced some reviewers in the media that this little film was due to deliver all the grace and charm of the surprise Indie successes along the lines of MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING and REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES. This was to the breakthrough movie that would make the 'surprise-the-public du jour topic' of gay life (so prevalent in the current televsion sitcoms and reality shows) become a family film of vast appeal. Despite some very good actors (Luke Kirby and Peter Miller as the Italian lovers overcoming the Italian family mores as portrayed by Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno etc), this vision of American-Italian dysfunctional faimly life pulls all focus away from what could have been an insightful film about ethnic/familial constraints on same sex love. It is so coated with suffocating shlock that any ring of sensitivity is simply drowned in visual, trashy excess. There is merit to the story but it has been told many times before and much better, mainly in Italian or Spanish art films, that this little attempt falls very flat. Another example of what 'Hollywood mentality' can do to potentially touching tales.
Rating:
Summary: Made me laugh louder than most movies
Review: The actors did a splendid job. Even though the movie is based around Italian families, I think many of us can see our own families in many of these characters and scenes. The lead character pulled it off exceptionally well. The flashbacks and imaginary scenes were welcome additions. There are some lines from the movie that still make me laugh months later. I highly recommend this one.
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