Pretty unsatisfying.
Mambo Italiano (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:69
Fresh:22
Rotten:47
Average Rating:4.7/10
Consensus: A broad, shrill comedy that plays like a sitcom.
Theatrical Release:Sep 26, 2003 Limited
Box Office: $6,239,558
Synopsis: Maria and Gino (GINETTE RENO and PAUL SORVINO), emigrated from Italy to Montreal in the 50’s and married after their arrival in “the new world”, a world they still haven’t quite gotten used to.... Maria and Gino (GINETTE RENO and PAUL SORVINO), emigrated from Italy to Montreal in the 50’s and married after their arrival in “the new world”, a world they still haven’t quite gotten used to. Their world is shattered when their son, Angelo (LUKE KIRBY), decides to get a place of his own. “What is so wrong with living with your parents until you get married?” they ask. They are relieved however, when Angelo’s childhood buddy, Nino (PETER MILLER), decides to move in with their son. After all, Nino is an old family friend and he’s a respectable cop. Their relief is short lived, as they find out that Nino and Angelo are much more than mere roommates—they’re (gasp) lovers! All hell breaks loose (Italian-style, of course!) Horror is followed by a general outcry, disbelief is followed by indignation, the battlefield is cleared, and “tutta la famiglia” goes to war! Will Angelo and Nino be able to resist the gargantuan pressure coming at them from all sides and find the strength to survive as a couple? Will Nino be able to withstand the seductive charms of the voluptuous Pina? Will Angelo find the courage to fully come out of the closet and confront the whole of them while he accepts himself? Mambo Italiano is hysterically funny and deeply moving. Adapted from the successful play by the same name, the movie explores further the subtleties and complexities of this quintessential Italian family—a family straddling the cultures, traditions, and mores of the old and new worlds. [More]
Starring: Luke Kirby, Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno, Claudia Ferri
Starring: Luke Kirby, Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno, Claudia Ferri, Peter Miller, Mary Walsh, Sophie Lorain
Director: Emile Gaudreault
Director: Emile Gaudreault
Screenwriter: Steve Galluccio, Emile Gaudreault
Story: Steve Galluccio
Producer: Denise Robert, Daniel Louis
Composer: FM Le Sieur
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films
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Reviews for Mambo Italiano
Reno's charming performance and some hilarious moments help this Canadian import rise above cliches.
A half-hour sitcom stretched into an unfathomable 90 minutes of played-out ethnic caricatures that should land the entire cast a lifelong ban from Italian pride parades.
As you watch MAMBO ITALIANO make its precipitous slide into mediocrity, you have to wonder which was the fluke, the piquancy or the plop
I've never seen so many people slap the backs of loved ones' heads in my entire life.
Every time Mambo Italiano seems headed for a plunge into the ethnic cartoon swamp, a refreshingly, unexpected element throws up a roadblock and keeps the movie on solid emotional ground.
With some more real moments and fewer over-the-top scenes, this could have been a movie to write home about.
The humor is broad -- the jokes tend to head toward obvious punchlines -- but it is well delivered.
Nearly every moment is played hard and loud, as if to compete with an imaginary laugh track.
There's nothing subtle about the writing -- which relies heavily on narration -- or the acting, but interesting casting goes a long way.
As you might expect, much of Mambo Italiano is devoted to colorful, food-splattering expressions of shock and outrage on the part of Angelo's parents, once they finally discover his secret.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
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