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Written and Directed by Starring Presented by Rated R 106
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EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN Review
In 2006, I went to the Rhode Island International Horror Film Festival and viewed a feature film that grabbed my attention immediately. Called UNREST, the film was a creepy look at a tormented soul looking for revenge as it is sent to a medical university as a cadaver. The film’s writer/director, Jason Todd Ipson, was a name I followed and was curious to see what he would do next. What was next was the complete opposite of UNREST, a romantic comedy named EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN but its two main stars have roots in the horror genre. Polish fish market owner Jake (Jay Jablonski) has been in a rut romantically. He refuses to accept the fact that his last girlfriend has gotten over him and still hounds her, even as she is married with children. His best friends are his co-workers, Italians Steve (John Kapelos in a great supporting role) and Gianluca (John Enos), who both insist that Jake needs a change in his life. Enter Marissa (Cerina Vincent), a beautiful veterinarian who meets Jake by chance when her cat sneaks into the back alley of the fish market looking for food. Thinking Marissa is Italian, Steve and Gianluca convince Marissa to go out with Jake, who they say is Italian. The catch is that Marissa is actually Spanish, and agrees to be Italian for one date. It turns out that the two have a fondness for each other that blossoms into a true relationship that is more than just romance. What makes EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN work is that the characters are extremely believable and the cast work great together as you feel that they are truly friends. Jablonski, in his first lead role, plays Jake well even though some may get turned off by his stalker like demeanor towards ex-girlfriend Isabella, but in actuality I know a few friends who still hark on “The one that got away,” even my married friends. It shows an unwillingness to move on in life but even though his friends see this, it is whether or not Jake sees it that makes the story work. As Marissa, this is by far the best work Cerina Vincent has done to date, showing that there’s more to her than just being the bloody damsel in distress. Marissa is such an instantly likable character that you will find yourself falling for her. One of the best performances comes from John Kapelos, who is using his studies in psychology to figure Jake out, and the scenes where Steve “consults” Jake as his shrink are some of the funniest moments in the film. Penny Marshall has a fun cameo as a florist who knows Jake all too well that even she tells him off when he tries to stick with tradition. With a title like EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN, it could be thought that there would be stereotypes of the prototypical Italian lifestyles in the film, but nothing could be further from the truth. The film is not offensive at all and respects the Italian culture well. Writer/director Jason Todd Ipson has created a fun romantic comedy with great chemistry between the characters. There are some over the top moments of raunchiness, mostly provided by Gianluca’s dialogue, but for the most part, Ipson keeps it straight and narrow. There is a definite homage to Woody Allen in the film, as Boston is presented as a character much like New York is in Allen’s classic comedies. There are also, no pun intended, some fish out of water elements that provide some nice moments. One of the best scenes in the film is when Marissa invites Jake to a formal dinner. Thinking that Jake is too blue collar, she is unsure how he will mesh with everyone. As Jake begins to talk to the other guests, he uses his experience as a fish market owner to teach everyone how to run a business, and becomes the hit of the dinner. Marissa’s reaction after the function is surprising and realistic. In all, EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN is a sweet romantic comedy that will be cherished by fans of romantic comedies, particularly Woody Allen’s work, but it stands out on its own. It thankfully doesn’t follow the typical rom com formula that we’ve seen done to death in big blockbusters and has two leads that you will believe can fall in love with each other. Fans of Cerina Vincent in particular will like it just for her versatility. I would recommend checking it out once it hits theaters. EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE
ITALIAN: 7 Out Of 10 Maggots CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR JASON TODD IPSON AND STARS JAY JABLONSKI AND CERINA VINCENT!
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