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WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
A young couple must navigate a blossoming romance amidst a war between their families’ competing pizza restaurants.
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Sometimes I can take myself too seriously. I admit it. Especially when it comes to movies. I do as much research as possible on the cast and crew. I consider years and years’ worth of theory when looking critically at different technical elements like cinematography and sound editing. I unpack my feelings regarding the issues, and I re-write everything a little bit too much.
Even if it’s something like Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer I consider the audience, the budget and the message of the film.
But, with a movie like Little Italy none of that is necessary. It’s Romeo and Juliet minus the death and with addition of lots of pizza. Simple. It’s the story of Leo Campo and Nikki Angioli, two childhood sweethearts whose families have feuded ever since an ill-fated culinary faceoff years ago.
Hayden Christensen and Emma Roberts as the two respective leads have such an undeniable chemistry and within five minutes you know how the whole thing is going to play out, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
There’s a level of comfort eating with a rom-com like this that is reminiscent of singing a cheesy pop song that you know all the words to on your drive home, after a long week. Your brain doesn’t have to work as the storyline grinds through the gears and speeds towards a predictable ending. It’s satisfying, it’s funny and it doesn’t try to be anything it’s not. If you’re looking for a brief inquiry into modern dating or a cerebral walk through a doomed romance, then this Donald Petrie helmed flick just isn’t for you. It’s glib, fun and at times, downright silly.
Two of my favourite performances in it comes from film come from Danny Aiello as Carlo Campo and Andrea Martin as Franca Angioli. The pair just know how to amp up the caricature aspects of their characters who are two older people who also have an undeniable chemistry. There are a lot of taboo friendships and star-crossed lovers in this movie.
Is a good date night movie? Very much so. It’s the type of movie that will make you both smile, if not totally laugh and in today’s brutal world, why not spend Friday night giving your critical eye a break?
