Mambo Italiano (2003)

32% of critics liked it
(72 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(7,664 ratings)

Old World values collide with modern-day questions of sexual orientation in this ethnic comedy. Mambo Italiano tells the story of Angelo, a neurotic twentysomething preoccupied with the usual post-adolescent concerns: his job, his creative aspirations as a writer, and his longing to get out of his… More Old World values collide with modern-day questions of sexual orientation in this ethnic comedy. Mambo Italiano tells the story of Angelo, a neurotic twentysomething preoccupied with the usual post-adolescent concerns: his job, his creative aspirations as a writer, and his longing to get out of his parents' house. He finally decides to take the plunge on his last goal, a decision that makes parents Gino (Paul Sorvino) and Maria (Ginette Reno) none too happy; they're not about to let one of their offspring leave the house without getting married. What they don't know is that Angelo is gay, a secret he's been keeping from everyone but his understanding older sister Anna (Claudia Ferri). A greater shock yet to the family is that Angelo is moving in with longtime crush Nino (Peter Miller), a local policeman whose sexuality is at odds with his macho profession. As the two lovebirds struggle to make sense of their relationship, both of their families chime in with opinions both helpful and not-so-helpful as they struggle to come to terms with their sons' new lives. Shot and set in Montreal, Mambo Italiano premiered stateside at the 2003 New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Émile Gaudreault
Written By: Émile Gaudreault, Steve Galluccio
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 19, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Feb 17, 2004
Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Company

Critic Reviews

Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
You actually come to like these people.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
There are laughs in the movie, and a lot of good feeling, but it seems more interested in its Italian stereotypes than its gay insights, and it must be said there is absolutely no feeling that Angelo and Nino are really lovers.
Randy Cordova, Arizona Republic
It's like watching a spaghetti-sauce commercial stretched out to feature-film length.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Lacks that outrageous effrontery that might have socked it to its intended audience.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Mambo Italiano is likely to provoke the same urges in the movie house that poor Nino experiences after a dinner at the noisy Barberini compound -- an overwhelming desire to flee.
Janice Page, Boston Globe
Mambo Italiano is no sophisticated dance, but it moves about with an open heart. And hey, it's at least as funny as that Greek thing.
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
If you're Italian, you'll either love or hate Mambo Italiano. If you're not, you just won't care.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
An excellent video transfer, but with no supplemental materials specific to Émile Gaudreault's glorified sitcom, you may want to rent rather than buy.
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal
Every time Mambo Italiano seems headed for a plunge into the ethnic cartoon swamp, a refreshingly, unexpected element throws up a roadblock and keeps the movie on solid emotional ground.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Seems set on making fun of Italians in the most heavy-handed manner possible.
Laura Kelly, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
The problem with screenwriter and director Émile Gaudreault's effort is that he turns his Canadian-Italian family into a cartoon.
Jeffrey Bruner, Des Moines Register
The film has a few laughs, but none of the sweetness of My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Where are the GoodFellas when we really need them?
Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Mama treats her son like a baby, even though he's almost 30! Angelo's family is gossipy! Straights don't understand gay culture! Da-DUM. Sheesh.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
There are some startlingly powerful scenes as characters grapple with expectations and feelings for each other. But the film is annoying in its cheap attempts to get a laugh.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Todd S

Mambo Italiano is the story of an Italian immigrant coming out to his old school Italian family. There are some really hysterical lines in this movie, but in general I found the whole thing to have been done. Putting an Italian twist on it, was in theory a good idea, but the whole… More
Mambo Italiano is the story of an Italian immigrant coming out to his old school Italian family. There are some really hysterical lines in this movie, but in general I found the whole thing to have been done. Putting an Italian twist on it, was in theory a good idea, but the whole film just comes across as cliché. The gay stereotypes are outdated and the other F word is thrown around way too much. If you're looking for an original "gay" comedy, watch Sascha Baron Cohen's Bruno, that was a great movie. Mambo Italiano is just a fast moving, sexist nightmare, with the occasional great one liner.
Sylvester K

Spaghetti to the max!!! It's like watching a Italian soap opera... Nothing really ground breaking happened in the film
Leo L

Great!
FanGirl B

Just sort of sappy