A romantic comedy I actually disliked - that's a first!
Added 7/20/2009
"Everybody Wants to be Italian" is to romantic comedy what "The Producers" intended "Springtime for Hitler" to be to musicals but in a more earnest and unfunny way, and without the catchy tunes. The fatal flaw in this movie is that the writers apparently thought the comedy would come from making the leading man into an unlikeable, obnoxious, borderline psycho creep. (Note to writers: in a romantic comedy it is not a good thing when the audience is rooting for the leading lady to dump the hero.)
Jake Bianski (Jay Jablonski), is a Polish guy who owns a fish monger shop. He refuses to believe that his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Isabella, is really over. At every opportunity he stalks and harasses her trying to convince her to get back together. It's not going to happen. Isabella married someone else eight years ago and they now have three small children. Although the oldest child was born more than a year after the break up, Jake often (loudly and publicly proclaims himself the boy's father. To make matters worse, the reason for the break up was that Jake slept with Isabella's best friend...and her sister...in her parents' bed. (Note to writers: In the Romantic Comedy (AKA: Chick Flick) genre, it's better when the chicks in the audience aren't considering the hero and saying, "eeeewwwww.")
The residents of the mostly Italian neighborhood are sweet, funny, and endearing as they offer advice to the young couple. The three guys who work in the fish shop are delightful. Steve Bottino (John Kapelos) is working while studying for his PhD in Psychology. Gianluca Tempesti (John Enos III) is a tough guy who is studying English literature at night. Papa Aldo Tempesti (Richard Libertini) is the elderly father who has some great observations and a dead pan delivery.
When the guys meet Marissa Costa (Cerina Vincent), a girl looking for a stray cat in an alley, they convince her to go to the dance to meet their "available" buddy. Since they assume Marrissa is Italian, they tell Jake he must pretend to be Italian. They introduce him as Jake Bianci and hope nature take its course. Marrisa, who is from a Spanish family, is also pretending to be Italian, hence the title.
After this really rocky set up, I wish I could tell you it gets better. But, at its best, this movie is... meh.
Two stars for the charming Miss Vincent, the supporting cast and the very nice location shots around Boston. (Note to readers: I'm being generous here.)
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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I live in the North End and this was the worst film of all time.
Added 6/3/2009
I live in the North End and this was the worst film of all time. Good god I wanted to like this movie. It was painful. The plot jumps around and makes no sense whatsoever. The only enjoyable part was the main female leads copious amount of cleavage. Mama Mia stay away!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Everybody Wants to be Italian
Added 5/26/2009
It was only ok. It was not as funny as My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Most people only get it if they are Italian. An OK "date" movie.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Great Boston movie
Added 4/20/2009
This is a terrific little movie, full of scenes of Boston & it's spectacular North End! Plus, for the sake of full disclosure...I'm in it!!! My first movie and it was a blast being part of it. Keep an eye out for Jay Jablonski & Cerina Vincent...they're gonna be huge stars!
1 out of 3 people found this helpful.
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Great Movie
Added 4/12/2009
If you are looking for a funny and romantic movie...this is your choice. With a little bit of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" theme in the "culture" department. You will enjoy this film from begining to the end.
2 out of 4 people found this helpful.
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A romantic comedy I actually disliked - that's a first!
Added 7/20/2009
"Everybody Wants to be Italian" is to romantic comedy what "The Producers" intended "Springtime for Hitler" to be to musicals but in a more earnest and unfunny way, and without the catchy tunes. The fatal flaw in this movie is that the writers apparently thought the comedy would come from making the leading man into an unlikeable, obnoxious, borderline psycho creep. (Note to writers: in a romantic comedy it is not a good thing when the audience is rooting for the leading lady to dump the hero.)
Jake Bianski (Jay Jablonski), is a Polish guy who owns a fish monger shop. He refuses to believe that his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Isabella, is really over. At every opportunity he stalks and harasses her trying to convince her to get back together. It's not going to happen. Isabella married someone else eight years ago and they now have three small children. Although the oldest child was born more than a year after the break up, Jake often (loudly and publicly proclaims himself the boy's father. To make matters worse, the reason for the break up was that Jake slept with Isabella's best friend...and her sister...in her parents' bed. (Note to writers: In the Romantic Comedy (AKA: Chick Flick) genre, it's better when the chicks in the audience aren't considering the hero and saying, "eeeewwwww.")
The residents of the mostly Italian neighborhood are sweet, funny, and endearing as they offer advice to the young couple. The three guys who work in the fish shop are delightful. Steve Bottino (John Kapelos) is working while studying for his PhD in Psychology. Gianluca Tempesti (John Enos III) is a tough guy who is studying English literature at night. Papa Aldo Tempesti (Richard Libertini) is the elderly father who has some great observations and a dead pan delivery.
When the guys meet Marissa Costa (Cerina Vincent), a girl looking for a stray cat in an alley, they convince her to go to the dance to meet their "available" buddy. Since they assume Marrissa is Italian, they tell Jake he must pretend to be Italian. They introduce him as Jake Bianci and hope nature take its course. Marrisa, who is from a Spanish family, is also pretending to be Italian, hence the title.
After this really rocky set up, I wish I could tell you it gets better. But, at its best, this movie is... meh.
Two stars for the charming Miss Vincent, the supporting cast and the very nice location shots around Boston. (Note to readers: I'm being generous here.)
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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I live in the North End and this was the worst film of all time.
Added 6/3/2009
I live in the North End and this was the worst film of all time. Good god I wanted to like this movie. It was painful. The plot jumps around and makes no sense whatsoever. The only enjoyable part was the main female leads copious amount of cleavage. Mama Mia stay away!
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Everybody Wants to be Italian
Added 5/26/2009
It was only ok. It was not as funny as My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Most people only get it if they are Italian. An OK "date" movie.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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