Uncle Nino (2003)

21% of critics liked it
(33 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(215 ratings)

A visit from a distant relative teaches a modern family about old-fashioned values in this family drama. Robert Micelli (Joe Mantegna) and his wife Marie (Anne Archer) are a couple living in Chicago with their two children, 15-year-old Bobby (Trevor Morgan) and 12-year-old Gina (Gina Mantegna). The… More A visit from a distant relative teaches a modern family about old-fashioned values in this family drama. Robert Micelli (Joe Mantegna) and his wife Marie (Anne Archer) are a couple living in Chicago with their two children, 15-year-old Bobby (Trevor Morgan) and 12-year-old Gina (Gina Mantegna). The Micelli Family is not as close as it once was; Robert is busy with work as he tries to earn a promotion, Marie has given up on cooking as a hobby, Bobby has started a rock & roll band with his friends and prefers to hang out with them, and Gina wants both a puppy and more attention from her dad. One day, Robert's elderly Uncle Nino (Pierrino Mascarino) arrives for a visit from Italy -- much to the surprise of the family, since Gina misplaced the letter Nino sent to announce his impending arrival. It doesn't take long for Nino to see that he's staying with an unhappy family, and he reaches out to them, reintroducing Marie to her love of good food, teaching Bobby about music, and teaching Gina about caring for pets and enjoying life; however, convincing Robert to spend more time with his family and less time worrying about work turns out to be a tough sell. Uncle Nino initially failed to find a distributor until the film's producers booked it into a theater in Grand Rapids, MI, where the film became a surprise hit playing to steady crowds for over a year. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Robert Shallcross
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 21, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Apr 7, 2009

Critic Reviews

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A third-rate Robin Williams movie that didn't even have the decency to hire Robin Williams.
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter
Shallcross fails to infuse the proceedings with the wit or distinctiveness necessary to lift it above the crop of its so many similar-themed predecessors.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Both movies have familiar and even hokey aspects, but they're also sincere rather than cynical, and there's something affecting about the very similar messages they're peddling.
Ned Martel, New York Times
Aggressive heartwarmer, which turns out to be much more of a heartburner.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
An effortless heartwarmer that manages to be utterly corny but quite likable.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is not my kind of movie, and I found myself feeling mighty restless by the end, or even halfway through, or even near the beginning, but objectively I know there are people who will embrace this movie.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
As a film in general, Uncle Nino would probably be no more than a 6 out of 10, but as a family film it merits a 7.
Angie Ward, Christianity Today
The message is timeless. Family matters. Tell people you love them. Despite its predictability, the movie works because it is completely without guile.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
Nino acts like an Italian fairy-god-uncle... transforming this house into a home - where flowers thrive, violin music fills the air, and everybody eats dinner together.
Sean Burns, Philadelphia Weekly
It feels something like a made-for-TV movie that fell back behind the fridge circa 1982 and has been rotting there ever since.
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Such a hamfisted effort that the ostensibly comic moments aren't nearly as funny as the sappily earnest serious parts.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
There's a place for a movie like this--but it's really on the Hallmark Hall of Fame rather than in an auditorium you have to pay to get into.
Ernest Hardy, L.A. Weekly
There's not a single surprise or moment of dramatic tension.
James Verniere, Boston Herald
Aspires to be a My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but succeeds only in being a big, fat, ethnic cliche.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
This is barely believable treacle, not helped by the fact that the characters don't even rise to the level of cartoons, much less real people.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The film -- and its characters -- are full of quirks. But it tries a little too hard, especially where the quirks are concerned.
Ken Fox, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Heartwarming is not always a bad thing. Consider this family film from writer-director Robert Shallcross: It's not only warm and fuzzy in all the right places, it's something that the whole family might actually enjoy.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Awe...what a nice, charming, cute, entertaining family movie! I really enjoyed the music at the end with Uncle Nino playing with the boys. Good job!

Cast

Joe Mantegna
as Robert Micelli
Anne Archer
as Marie Micelli
Pierrino Mascarino
as Nino Micelli

Trevor Morgan
as Bobby Micelli
Gina Mantegna
as Gina Micelli
Duke Doyle
as Bones

See full cast

Uncle Nino (2003)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Cast