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| Plot Synopsis Old World values collide with modern-day questions of sexual orientation in this ethnic comedy. Mambo Italiano tells the story of Angelo, a neurotic twentysomething preoccupied with the usual post-adolescent concerns: his job, his creative aspirations as a writer, and his longing to get out of his parents' house. He finally decides to take the plunge on his last goal, a decision that makes parents Gino (Paul Sorvino) and Maria (Ginette Reno) none too happy; they're not about to let one of their offspring leave the house without getting married. What they don't know is that Angelo is gay, a secret he's been keeping from everyone but his understanding older sister Anna (Claudia Ferri). A greater shock yet to the family is that Angelo is moving in with longtime crush Nino (Peter Miller), a local policeman whose sexuality is at odds with his macho profession. As the two lovebirds struggle to make sense of their relationship, both of their families chime in with opinions both helpful and not-so-helpful as they struggle to come to terms with their sons' new lives. Shot and set in Montreal, Mambo Italiano premiered stateside at the 2003 New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. - Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide Reviews SCOTT WEINBERG EFilmcritic.com Pundits claim that there's nothing new under the sun; that there are a relatively finite number of stories out there worth telling, and we've long since told them all by now. If this theory holds true, then the best that moviegoers can hope for is some simple breath of fresh life with each successive retelling. And that's pretty much what "Mambo Italiano" has to offer: a whole lot of familiar pieces, all glued together quite neatly and delivered in a funny, breezy package. Take the "insular and exaggerated culture clash" schpiel that was apparently (and rather mysteriously) so popular in last year's My Big Fat Greek Wedding and combine it with an indie-style "gay men dealing with the closet" comedy; whip 'em both into a fine paste and throw in a big dash of Franco-Canadianism...and this is the result: Mambo Italiano, a film that coasts over its shortcomings through sheer force of goodwill and a director who thankfully knows how to frame a gag. Our hero is Angelo, an charming-yet-nerdly Italian/Canadian guy who (in his early 20s) is coming to terms with his homosexuality. Aside from the manic and handwringing protests from his old-school-Italian Mama and Papa, Angelo seems to be acclimating to his discovery quite easily. That Angelo finds himself in a lusty affair with bestest childhood buddy Nino (the same guy who ignored Angelo all through high school) makes the transition even more comfortable...except for Mama & Papa and those goshdarned old-fashioned cultural values. Angelo's sister is quite helpful and somewhat understanding, but when the parents start devising a collection of schemes intended to turn him "straight" (with the canoodling assistance of Nino's keening mother), things go from sunshine to thundercloud in short order. Second feature from Emile Goudreault (Wedding Night) and based on Steve Galluccio's popular stage play, Mambo Italiano is to be commended for the light and refreshingly matter-of-fact tone it applies to the plight of culturally-beleaguered homosexuals. Plus it's quite funny. Much can be said for any film that tries to shine some mainstream light onto a subject generally discussed in hushed tones, but what's most impressive is that the filmmakers seem to be going for Romantic Comedy first - and Topical Issue Flick second or third. Much like last year's excellent Kissing Jessica Stein, Goudreault's comedy is not content to be pigeonholed as a "gay flick" but simply aspires to keep an audience laughing...while addressing its own agenda in the broadest and most accessible fashion. Luke Kirby (Lost and Delirious) is great as Angelo, bringing a Neighborhood Drinking Buddy attitude to a role that's trickier to pull off than the film's fluffy nature might imply. As Angelo's long-suffering Sicilian Mom & Pop, Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas) and Mary Walsh (New Waterford Girl) are simply a whole lot of fun. Sure, Sorvino's accent wavers between the apt and the absurd at various points, but Mambo Italiano is so packed to the gills with intentionally broad caricatures that the lovable old guy fits right in. Walsh comes off like a funny Italian version of Joan Plowright while stealing a handful of scenes for her very own. It would be easy to dismiss "Mambo Italiano" as simply a Greek Wedding/Gay Issue/Italian Family amalgam - and in many ways that's obviously a fair assessment. But if you're going to offer the masses something that feels a whole lot like a bunch of other flicks out there, you should try to do it with some care, some craftsmanship and some sincerity. Despite its often-familiar trappings, "Mambo Italiano" delivers all three with impressive consistency. MIKE SZYMANSKI Zap2it.com Friday , September 19, 2003 Gay coming out stories seem almost as standard these days as the painful AIDS-related movies of the '80s and '90s. This one, however, is a pleasant-enough charming film that mixes the ethnic humor of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" with the humor of a clever coming out story, much like Ang Lee's "The Wedding Banquet" did in 1993. This is "Big Fat Greek Wedding" with bite and one of the funniest films of the year, as young Angelo (played by Luke Kirby) falls in love with his handsome hunky best friend, Nino, (played by Peter Miller) and they try to hide it from their strict Italian families. Of course roles like this must be played by unknowns, and although it doesn't involve any explicit scenes, nor even a lot of kissing, the idea of two men together scares away most well known actors. Awards Best Song (nom)-Adam James Broughton 2003 Genie Awards Best Song (nom)-Jeanne Dompierre 2003 Genie Awards Best Song (nom)-FM Le Sieur 2003 Genie Awards Best Song (nom)-Steve Galluccio 2003 Genie Awards |
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| MAMBO ITALIANO 2003 - Canada - 88 min. - Feature, Color Director - �mile Gaudreault |
| Genre / Type - Comedy Drama, Gay & Lesbian Films, Domestic Comedy Flags - Sexual Situations, Profanity, Adult Situations MPAA Rating - R Keywords - apartment, parent, screenwriter, sister, travel-agent, coming-out, police-officer, Italian [nationality] Themes - Eccentric Families, Questioning Sexuality, Twentysomething Life, Fathers and Sons, Mothers and Sons Tones - Affectionate, Gentle, Heartwarming, Light, Bittersweet Produced by - Cinimaginaire Inc / Equinoxe Films Release - Sep 19, 2003 (USA - Limited) Premiere - 2003 06 05 (New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) Released by - Samuel Goldwyn Films MPAA Reasons - for language and sexual situations DVD Street Date - Feb 17, 2004 Languages - English Subtitles - English Screen Format - Widescreen Sound - Dolby Digital 5.1 Aspect Ratio - 1.85:1 (DVD) Studio - Columbia TriStar Features - Closed Caption, [None specified] Cast Luke Kirby -- Angelo Barberini Ginette Reno -- Maria Barberini Paul Sorvino -- Gino Barberini Mary Walsh -- Lina Paventi Claudia Ferri -- Anna Barberini Peter Miller -- Nino Paventi Tim Post -- Peter Lou Vani - Sophie Lorain -- Pina Lunetti Pierrette Robitaille -- Rosetta Richard Jutras -- Roberto James Berlingieri -- Fabio Diane Lavallee -- Melanie Shaun Balbar -- Raymond Dino Tavarone - Giorgio |
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