They could have called it My Big Fat Gay Italian Coming Out Party, except the plot for Mambo Italiano is so thin it would give any self-respecting Italian mama reason to fret. And that's not the only cause for concern, because Γ‰mile Gaudreault's film - based on the play by Steve Galluccio - trades on grossly offensive ethnic stereotypes, the likes of which haven't been seen since the last television commercial for Goodfella's pizza.
Newcomer Luke Kirby plays Angelo Barberini, who mourns the affliction of being both Italian and gay - "there's no fate worse". Terrified by the prospect of coming out to his overbearing parents (Paul Sorvino, Ginette Reno), he decides to fly the nest, which is reason enough for Mr and Mrs Barberini to throw a Mediterranean-style wobbly. Still that's nothing compared to the Vesuvius of rage that's set to blow when he bunks up with his gay lover Nino (Peter Miller).
"DRIPPY AND RATHER IRRITATING LEAD"
From beginning to end, Gaudreault assaults the senses with an intense salvo of rapid-fire wisecracks and frenzied machine gun editing that even Martin Scorsese would shy away from. An overwhelming brashness permeates every frame, down to the psychedelic costumes and set design, with the overall viewing experience akin to having your brain pressed through a spaghetti strainer.
With so much peripheral noise it's impossible to empathise with any of the characters, not least because the script has all the complexity of molten mozzarella. Talking of cheese, Peter Miller stinks the place up as Nino, while Luke Kirby makes for a drippy and rather irritating lead. The only high spots are Claudia Ferri as Angelo's Valium-addicted sister, and the double act of Sorvino and Reno, who manage to inject the only ounce of sincerity in this otherwise overcooked, sloppy slice of Italian fruit pie.
Mambo Italiano (2004)
