Mambo Italiano Review

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(More customer reviews)"Mambo Italiano" is a sweet movie about an Italian family having to deal with their gay son as he comes out to them. It's also a sad movie about a mother that cannot deal with her son's homosexuality and a son that denies his passion for men in order to please society. It's also a funny movie that plays on all the stereotypes of gays and Italians (yes, unfortunately stereotypes do draw laughs.)
The thing I like about this film is the fact that not everybody gets a happy ending. Two gay men and their respective families end up in two different paths. One is the path of honesty, honor, pride and love while the other is the path of shame, guilt, pretense and hypocrisy. Such are the two main paths in life and I am glad they were pronounced in the film.
The thing that bothered me was that the movie tried hard to be Italian! Over-the-top performances by the parents were at times embarrassing to even watch on the screen.
The most powerful scene in this film, in my opinion, is the scene where Angelo confronts his parents and the mother of his lover, Nino, about their denial and selfishness in trying to prevent him from living his life. This is a scene that will resonate with all of us, gay or straight.
I recommend that you see it with a loved one so you can share the laughs, the tears and the love.

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Fifty years ago, Gino and Maria came to Canada, and never quite recovered. They thought the surprises were over, but that was before their son Angelo broke the news . . . he wants to quit his stable job as a travel agent to become a TV writer, and he's in love with his best friend, a police officer named Nino. For Gino and Maria, tradition is about to come undone, and family is going to take on a whole new meaning.

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Lars and the Real Girl Review

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(More customer reviews)Were anyone to suggest that a 'romance' between a guy and a blowup doll could become one of the more sensitive films of the year, it would be cause for derision - that is, before viewing LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. The improbable story was written by Nancy Oliver (the writer of many episodes of the TV series 'Six Feet Under') and directed by Craig Gillespie who gathered a particularly strong cast of actors to present this examination of compassion and love for an emotionally injured young man by small town folks, reminding us that caring for each other is still a highly regarded value.
Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) survived a tough childhood only to become a loner terrified of emotional and tactile contact. He lives in the garage of his deceased parents' home while his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and pregnant sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) live in the main house. Despite Karin's pleadings to be part of the family, Lars prefers to keep to himself. At his job his co-workers include Margo (Kelli Garner), who is more than a little attracted to the quiet and strangely distant Lars, and a fellow who finds ' life-size love dolls' on the internet. Lars orders one of the dolls and when 'Bianca' arrives, Lars finally has a girlfriend to share his loneliness. He introduces Bianca to Gus and Karin who find the situation strange, but at the same time see the happiness in Lars that has been missing. They encourage Lars and Bianca to see a doctor Margo (Patricia Clarkson) who plays along with the concept that Lars finds Bianca real, and encourages Gus and Karin to be supportive. As it ends up the entire little town accepts Bianca and she is introduced to doing good deeds and be a vital part of the town, all through the kindness of people who love the 'delusional' Lars and care only for his happiness. How Lars gradually finds his way into the real world and copes with the understanding of his need for Bianca, the story comes to a tender ending, one that never for a moment feels like a sellout but maintains the dignity of all of the characters in the story.
This is a fine and thoughtful exploration of the needs we all have for understanding, compassion, and acceptance, and while there are some very humorous moments in this well-written story, the overall message is one of gentle love. Ryan Gosling is so fine an actor that he makes this rather complex character understandable and gains our empathy. The supporting cast is equally excellent - especially Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer and Paul Schneider. Highly recommended viewing, this is a DVD many will want to own for repeated viewings. Grady Harp, April 08

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Sometimes you find love where you'd least expect it. Just ask Lars (Academy Award-Nominee* Ryan Gosling), a sweet but quirky guy who thinks he's found the girl of his dreams in a life-sized doll named Bianca. Lars is completely content with his artificial girlfriend, but when he develops feelings for Margo, an attractive co-worker, Lars finds himself lost in a hilariously unique love triangle, hoping to somehow discover the real meaning of true love. Offbeat and endearing, this romantic comedy takes a fresh look at dating and relationships and dares to ask the question: What's so wrong with being happy?

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