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Despite fun performances, this wannabe franchise lacks ambiance

Remember Me

Pattison delivers another brooding performance in this self-indulgent film about young love and deliverance

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Everybody Wants To Be Italian (Film)

by Marina Pliatsikas | July 01, 2009 10:06 | Edited July 01, 2009 10:08

While often mediocre,it isn’t a complete failure and provides enough laughs to keep it watchable.

Everybody Wants To Be Italian follows the slightly psychotic Jake (Jay Jablonski), a Boston fish market owner with an unhealthy obsession for his ex-girlfriend. In an effort to snap him out of it, Jake's employees set him up with attractive veterinarian Marisa (Cerina Vincent), whilst bestowing upon him all the terrible love advice needed to make this new romance seem like an imminent disaster from the outset.

 

Despite the title, there's nothing particularly Italian about this film, except for the occasional slice of generic, Mediterranean-sounding music playing in the background of a few scenes. It seems that the whole "Italian" concept is just chucked in clumsily to try and allow a few more twists and turns to the plot. It has nowhere near the same in-your-face, hilarious exploration of cultural idiosyncrasies as My Big Fat Greek Wedding (the obvious benchmark film of this genre), and it probably would have been funnier to see the stereotypes personified through outrageous relatives, rather than explained somewhat naively by inconsequential characters with forced accents.

 

At the same time, the filmmakers have to be given kudos for at least trying to move away from the whole overdone "embarrassing-family" comedy structure, while the ironic references to overprotective, knife-wielding Italian brothers will bring either a knowing smile, or an offended frown from the viewer. The film has its fair share of cliches and cringe-worthy acting moments. Nevertheless, while not being entirely original or clever in its exploration of modern Italian culture, it's a light-hearted film which delivers just enough giggles to keep it upbeat and kind of cute. Let's not mention the uber corny ending though...