Mambo Italiano

Rating:
Summary: cute!
Review: The movie was cute. It played on Italian and Gay streotypes. and it's pretty much entertaining.

The first half an hour is really funny, then it gets sort of long, but nonetheless still entertaining.

It was pretty much like my big fat greek wedding, but a gay italian version.

I think the movie would have been that much more ejoyable had the actors been cuter. It's a gay comedy, a little eye candy wouldn't hurt.

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: There are not many good, non-porn gay movies out there, which you may have noticed. If you want a movie that you could share with your co-workers and not be embarrassed, this is it! This movie made me laugh, it was cute, it was professional, and it was fun. It had some serious parts too, but in the end, it made me feel good. Very good entertainment. It's not a coming-out flick (although it hits on that issue) and it's not an AIDS movie. I rented it and then ended-up buying it. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Pass On This Film
Review: There is noting like a a tragic comedy--and this is nothing like one. This movie lacked sincerity and by failing to successfully exploit the scripts emotional depths we are left with a movie which is more like Airplane 3 than Torch Song Trilogy, or more like Police Academy 4 than Parting Glances. The actors were likable but the director was willing to take few risks, leaving us with a series of chuckles rather than the emotional roller coaster the movie could have been. This gets two stars because this movie is based upon a well crafted script but the execution was poor. Disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Funny
Review: This is a very funny movie. Maybe a little one-dimensional and cartoonish, but I think that's part of its comedic style and it works. Anyway it succeeds with its little touching moments too. I specially liked the ending. The acting is satisfying, the actors who play the parents of the main character being the strong point. And it only lasts 90 minutes, wich I always appreciate a lot.
The dvd itself shows a great widescreen anamorphic transfer, but I found the lack of extras a little disapointing, I'd have liked a director's commentary.

Rating:
Summary: A waste of time...really!
Review: This is the most vulgar and cheap movie I have ever seen. And I thought "Lost in Translation" was bad... well, I have seen the worst and the title is "Mambo Italiano". A trash movie from A to Z to say the very least, and watching it was painful and boring to the core. No scenario whatsoever, just vulgar language from beginning to end. I tried to find some dignity and humanity somewhere in this movie but I haven't found any whatsoever. Pitiful is the only word I can find to describe that garbage.

Rating:
Summary: Leap of Faith
Review: This is what I did before trying to rent the movie. It's intresting to see the dynamics of the main character's family played out over the course of the film. Although I am sure that there are some Italian familes who's backround are heavily rooted in the country from which they came, I did find some the charater's dialogue to be over the top. The affair between the two male leads is intresting in the fact that cop chooses "not" to be gay anymore after his partner comes out of the closet. Gay bashing by a gay guy, what next? Gay florists who beomome hetro navy seals? The mood of the film depicts a lot of shouting and self loathing, almost to the point of self destruction. Alas in true hollywood fashion there is a plot twist that plays out as somewhat happliy ever after. Wish this movie was so much more.

Rating:
Summary: good but not great
Review: this movie was a good movie if your wanting to cry and have a fag spaz, the plot is good and the actor are GRRRRRRRRRRReat but it just lacked in some areas. Don't get me wrong it made cry because sometime i feel the same way about coming out but other than that. it was just ok.

Rating:
Summary: The night at the Olive Garden is less cheesy than........
Review: this movie. A cute little play turns into a bland and predictable movie. We can tell by the quick pace of the movie in introducing the characters that we are in for some major plot holes.Angelo(played by Luke Kirby....humm doesn't sound Itailian to me) life is explained in about 5 mins flat and his relationship with Nino( played by Peter Miller) in almost less time.The main plot is Angelo difficulty coming out to his parents and what happens after he tells them.
But the main story is a universal "Gay" story. The fear of coming out to your parents.But this movie makes light of something that in real life would have been a major ordeal for a Second generational family.The acting is top notch with Paul Sorvino doing what he's does best(outshining the rest of the cast) is terrific as the "Old World" Italian father who feels God is punishing him for having a Gay son.
But for me the story lies flat and perdictable. And I did not like the Gay help line scene where callers with real problem where made to be the butt ( pardon the expression) of some really bad jokes when the Angelo character insults them and even hangs up on one of the callers in the results to get laughs.
But this story has been done before on so many levels (ie: "Maurice", "Get Real" even " Billy Elliot")that it looks old and rehashed. We all know halfway into the movie Angelo and Nino relationship will be doomed and the parents will learn to love their Gay son.
But I must amit I did laugh a FEW times at the sterotypical antics of the parents."Mambo Itailiano" is far from groundbreaking and highly overratted by some of the reviwers on this site. But if you want to see a cute,shirtless,Itailan hunk(Nino) and get a couple of chuckles laughing at some over the top sterotype jokes. Then this no-brainer movie will pass the time away just fine.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not great
Review: This was an entertaining film that was moderate. I did not make a connection with the story because it failed to draw me in and the lead figure was warm but not engaging. The leads lover ( Nino) was engaging and charming. The story was slow and did not have an emotional impact. Not a great investment but worthy of a look.

Rating:
Summary: Our Little Italian Son's Coming Out
Review: Those who are from or have experience with the Italian melodramatic family system will probably appreciate this film. Yes, the ethno-humor is a bit over the top but still manages to get a few laughs and remain cute. Cute and funny are the keywords here, as there's very little seriousness in the manner in which this movie depicts the "coming out" theme. It might be funny to see how the movie would work if it was set in South Philly or Mulberry St in NY's Little Italy. It's set in a small suburban Italian neighborhood of Montreal.

Much to his parent's dismay, the main character, Angelo (played by Luke Kirby), isn't interested in finding a 9-5 job with good security or a nice Italian girl to marry. He also doesn't want to hang out in gay bars, march in the gay parade or even answer the phones for the gay hotline, but he does want to love someone and he wants his parents to know and accept who he really is. He envisions a life very different than the one his parent's had and one which strays from the traditions in which he was raised. He lives with his boyfriend and wants to write movies so you can just imagine the drama that ensues with "La Famiglia".

Paul Sorvino doesn't stray too far from his typecast as the Italian father, but his acting remains refreshing. With the help of Ginette Reno (who plays the Italian mom), the parents create some humorous melodrama in the process of "adapting" to their son's coming out. A noteworthy performance is also given by Claudia Ferri who plays Angelo's neurotic but understanding sister.

Expect this movie to tackle the subject light-heartedly. It will give you a few laughs, while not being annoyingly thought provoking.