Mambo Italiano

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Mambo Italiano ★★ 2003 (R)

Broad, ethnic romantic comedy that could be titled “My Big Gay Italian/Canadian Wedding.” Kirby plays Angelo Barberini, a 30-year-old nice Italian boy still living with his parents in Montreal's version of Little Italy when he falls for childhood bully Nino (Miller), now a cop and secretly also gay. The two begin a clandestine relationship and move in together while both families unsuccessfully begin a whirlwind of lastditch matchmaking activities. A pleasant turn by lead Kirby highlights this goodnatured yet technically simple comedy where most of the performances, and accents, are uneven. 99m/C VHS, DVD . CA Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino, Claudia Ferri, Peter Miller, Mary Walsh, Sophie Lorain, Tim Post, Lisa Bronwyn Moore; D: Emile Gaudreault; W: Emile Gaudreault, Steve Galluccio; C: Serge Ladouceur.