“A SPICY SERVING OF ITALIAN FUN”
Starring: Gianni Di Gregorio Valeria De Franciscis, Grazia Cesarini Sforza, Marina Cacciotti, and Maria Calì.
Directed by: Gianni Di Gregorio
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Genre: Foreign, Comedy in Italian with subtitles and a lot of hand gestures.
Release date: April, 2010
By John Delia
This funny little gem from Italy features the wonderful acting and directing by Gianni Di Gregorio. The fast paced storyline of Mid-August Lunch plays out two humorous days Italian style with delightful characters acted by a superb support cast. Whether you are into foreign comedy or just want to sit back and escape to another culture, this film makes a scrumptious ‘meal.’
The movie follows the sly Gianni (Di Gregorio) on a day at the marketplace where he finds himself fending off paying his bills and rent. Not in any mood for staying long and chatting with friends and storeowners, he heads back to his apartment where he lives with his 93-year-old mother. As a caregiver and companion, Gianni is the sweetest guy on earth, but when it comes to finances, he’s a looser.
That afternoon he gets a visit from Luigi his building manager who makes him an offer, if he will watch his mother while he goes off for a special Italian holiday he’ll forgive his rental debts. He agrees, except when Luigi returns he not only has his satirical mother but also his aunt. It’s a little tight since there’s little food to go around and the apartment’s small. When Gianni’s Doctor shows up asking for a similar favor, things start getting out of hand.
I liked the way Di Gregorio paced his film so you could get just enough of the characters personality and problems. The tight fit of the apartment plays an important role also, bringing the characters closer together so you can get all the hilarious interaction. Italian comments, phrases and innuendo abound in the delicious script that tickled me, but admittedly partially due to my common heritage.
Mid-August Lunch is unrated with a few sexual insinuation and language. Mid-August Lunch is played in Italian with English subtitles, but most of the Italian gestures give you the idea anyway.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good foreign film with a lot of flavor. (4 of 5 Palm Trees)