Filmmaker Michelle Danner makes her imprint on the dysfunctional family dramedy, homespun with plenty of Italian flavor. Clearly inspired by bold studio films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Italians wears its cheesy ricotta heart on its sleeve. Lighthearted and over-the-top, screenwriter Lisa Phillips Visca leans into Italian-American stereotypes in a gleeful sendup of their ridiculousness. A predictable rom-com may be exactly the comfort watch we all need. Charming and self-aware, The Italians finds the humor in the chaos of meeting the parents.
Angelina (Danner, Bad Impulse, The Runner) and Vincenzo (Rob Estes, 90210, Melrose Place) are traditional Italian parents, complete with very strong opinions about the life trajectory of their son, Nico (Matthew Daddario, Shadowhunters, Cabin Fever). When Nico brings home his new girlfriend, Lily (Abigail Breslin, Little Miss Sunshine, Scream Queens), to finally meet them, he warns to expect the worst. After all, Angelina has “crazy Italian standards,” having scared off every single woman Nico has ever brought home. Angelina immediately dislikes Lily—between being a vegetarian, an atheist, an actress, and no desire to have children, Lily does not seem fit for Nico. She isn’t Italian, either.
Between several disastrous dinners, the push-and-pull between Angelina and Lily over Nico never relents. All the tropes are here: big loud family gatherings, meddling mothers, passionate arguments, and impossible standards. None of this would work without the strength of the ensemble cast and their familial chemistry. Lucia (Lainie Kazan, My Big Fat Greek Wedding franchise, Gigli), Angelina’s difficult, nursing home-bound mother, manages to get some of the biggest laughs. Perrey Reeves (Entourage, Child’s Play 3) plays a neighbor who frequently gets her hair cut by Angelina. Tying it all together, Angelina, Vincenzo, and Nico recount the outrageousness in the confessional booth of Father Joe (Luca Riemma, Un Posto LA Sole, Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend). This framing device works surprisingly well, allowing for random interjections of the unfolding hilarity. Mamma Mia, indeed.
Clearly, The Italians was personal for director/star Michelle Danner—at the end, she dedicates the film to her own mother, Loredana. What starts as a lighthearted rom-com takes an unexpectedly poignant turn about halfway through, when Angelina reveals that she may have a faulty heart. Her condition puts everything into perspective for the quarrelling family. A stirring rendition of “Ave Maria” ties it all together. Furthermore, Angelina rises to become the main character, which is a refreshing shift in perspective from the young couple being the focal point. The romantic subplot seems slight in comparison to the bigger picture. At times, the sitcom-level cheesiness or melodramatic scoring can pull us out of the story’s progression. Could that element be a part of its contagious charms? Breslin stands her own against the family’s initially judgmental matriarch. Carrying the weight of the film on her shoulders allows for plenty of bold acting moments for Danner. Exaggerated and heartfelt, the warmth of the family at its core rolls The Italians into a hearty meatball of a movie—veal included.
Come to dinner to meet The Italians, spreading dysfunctional family love to VOD and digital on Friday, April 11th.
I believe Lida Visca was the writer of The Italians
I don’t understand the positive reviews of this movie. Maybe some find the cheesiness to be charming. I just found it cheesy. There was a lot of over acting, Kazan was disappointing (I’ve previously loved her in films), and the relationship between Nico and Lily was not believable for the reasons no one wants to say out loud.