It's Italian. It's Amore! It's Mambo Italiano!
by Tallulah
Givehead
Mambo Italiano
is likely the funniest, sweetest gay comedy l'il ol'
Tallulah hayuz evah watched.
Mambo Italiano is the bittersweet story of one
young man's coming out and another young man's
failure to love himself as he is and returns to the
closet.
Maria and Gino (the
absolutely fabulous
Ginette Reno in her final film and the
astounding
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 (the oh-so-sweet
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
(hot-hot-HOT
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 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 (Sophia
Lorain)? 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 familia family
straddling the cultures, traditions, and mores of
the old and new worlds. Check out the trailer
HERE
Tallulah Givehead is
a Fabulous drag queen living in Portland, Oregon
(Lord only knows why!) writing reviews of gay film
by day and tearing up the stage by night. You
can read her reviews here as well as at her blog,
QUEER VUE MIRROR.
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