Mambo Italiano
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Canada
Movie Reviews of Mambo Italiano
Movie Review: Let's Mambo!
Summary: 4 Stars
Imagine just starting to deal with being gay, in an Italian family, with parents that are just this side of looney, and you get the basic premise of the new gay film "Mambo Italiano". This Canadian import is an enjoyable romp through the life of one Angelo Barberini, an attractive young Italian male who's just starting to deal with coming out of the closet. His life is entralled with two controlling parents whose only desire is for their son to meet "a nice Italian girl" and settle down, one sister who lives for her Valium and visits to every psychologist in Toronto, and his soon-to-be extremely closeted cop boyfriend Nino.
One mistake the movie could have made, but never does, is to take itself too serioiusly. It's a fun romp, fast paced, and full of funny moments. As Angelo comes out to his parents, you seem him blossoming within his own life, as he attempts to take charge of the situation. Luke Kirby does an excellent job in his role as Angelo, allowing the audiences to sympathize and laugh with him at the same time. And Tim Post, as a gay help line volunteer, comes across as charming as Rupert Everett in his role.
Fun, light hearted, and quite an enjoyable film, you won't be disappointed with this Canadian winner of a film, "Mambo Italiano".
For DVD fans, the DVD comes with no extras at all, which I did miss. But hey, you can't have everything!
Movie Review: Saucy Gay Comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
Mambo Italiano is an enjoyable piece of sweet fluff. While it is obvious that the makers of the film are riding on the coattails of the successful MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING the gay plot and different ending put an interesting spin of what many will consider a formula movie. Well formula or not my partner and I really enjoyed it.
I think the reason this movie succeeds so well is because it isn't afraid to poke fun at itself. For example, the over the top acting is superb, a good thing too because anything less would be ridiculous.
Not to be too frivilous there are a few serious moments, which add a nice depth to the story. I particularly liked the scene where the Angelo character (Luke Kirby) asks his ex-lover Nino (Peter Miller) if he had ever loved him. The reaction on Angelo's face to Nino's lame answer is skilled acting at its best.
Production wise there is no skimping like we sometimes see with other films of this genre. The movie is crisp, clear and beautiful. The public garden scenes are especially lush (practically makes you want to move to Canada). If the production studio didn't drop a ton of money on Mambo Italiano then the director and camera people did a fantastic job making the film look like a big budget Hollywood comedy. If a lot of $$$ was spent ... well they got their money's worth.
Movie Review: This is cute and funny.
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Movie Review: Sweet, sad, funny and over the top!
Summary: 4 Stars
"Mambo Italiano" is a sweet movie about an Italian family having to deal with their gay son as he comes out to them. It's also a sad movie about a mother that cannot deal with her son's homosexuality and a son that denies his passion for men in order to please society. It's also a funny movie that plays on all the stereotypes of gays and Italians (yes, unfortunately stereotypes do draw laughs.)The thing I like about this film is the fact that not everybody gets a happy ending. Two gay men and their respective families end up in two different paths. One is the path of honesty, honor, pride and love while the other is the path of shame, guilt, pretense and hypocrisy. Such are the two main paths in life and I am glad they were pronounced in the film.
The thing that bothered me was that the movie tried hard to be Italian! Over-the-top performances by the parents were at times embarrassing to even watch on the screen.
The most powerful scene in this film, in my opinion, is the scene where Angelo confronts his parents and the mother of his lover, Nino, about their denial and selfishness in trying to prevent him from living his life. This is a scene that will resonate with all of us, gay or straight.
I recommend that you see it with a loved one so you can share the laughs, the tears and the love.
Movie Review: My Big Fat [Homosexual] Gay Life!
Summary: 4 Stars
I read some reviews about this film when it was released that called it the [homosexual] "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". And while it plays a little too heavily on the Italian-american stereotype, it is a charming film about a young man coming to terms with who he is and his neurotic family's response.Angelo is a nice young man who was always picked on in school, even by his one-time closest friend, Nino. As adults, Nino and Angelo are reunited and become lovers. Everything is perfect for the young couple until Angelo decides he wants to come out to his family. Once Nino's mother finds out, things begin to unhinge. It is easy to root for the once ostracized Angelo, who always took the abuse of others while keeping his sexual orientation private. Anyone who has felt outcast or different in their lives will be able to understand his situation and determination to live his life honestly and openly.
This is not a perfect film but it does have its touching moments and enough laughs to keep you interested. Though I didn't like it as much as "Greek Wedding", I still think it is worth watching.