Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
My Big Gay Italian Wedding is a romantic comedy about the crazy events that take place after Antonio (Cristiano Caccamo) asks his boyfriend, Paolo (Salvatore Esposito), to marry him.
After Paolo accepts the proposal, Antonio mentions that he is going to tell his parents about the wedding when he goes home to the small town of Civita, Italy for the Easter holiday. But Paolo wants to be there, so Antonio reluctantly agrees. They bring their roommates, Benedetta (Diana Del Bufalo), who already knows Antonio’s parents, and Donato (Dino Abbrescia), who is a nervous wreck and refuses to be left alone.
Unfortunately, things don’t go smooth when Antonio announces that he and Paolo are going be married. Antonio’s mother, Anna (Monica Guerritore), is happy, but his father, Roberto (Diego Abatantuono), isn’t pleased. And on top of that, Antonio’s childhood friend, Camilla (Beatrice Arnera), still has a crush on him and is trying to get between them.
Anna quickly begins to plan the wedding, which she will pay for as long as Paolo’s mother (Rosaria D’Urso) is present. The problem is that Paolo hasn’t seen his mother since she threw him out of the house when he came out to her, and she seems reluctant to attend when he asks. Hilarity and hijinks ensue as Donato decides to dress up as Paolo’s mother, Antonio desperately fends off Camilla, and Anna puts her marriage at risk by planning her son’s wedding.
Some Thoughts:
My Big Gay Italian Wedding sets out to be a lighthearted romantic comedy, and it succeeds. Despite not being all that funny, the acting, pacing, and loveable characters make the film enjoyable. It also helps that the story flows well and will never leave you bored.
The film’s biggest flaw is having one too many characters. Although I enjoyed Donato, he doesn’t do anything for the plot. His only purpose is to get some laughs, which never actually happen. It’s a shame because if handled properly, he would have been a better sidekick than Benedetta, who spends most of her time hanging around and singing.
The only minor characters who meet expectations are Camilla and Antonio’s parents. Camilla is delightfully annoying and petulant, giving the story a much-needed villain. The tension between Antonio’s parents is well done. This is also something that some people might sadly find relatable. These two plotlines are what keeps the movie entertaining.
The Final Verdict:
My Big Gay Italian Wedding is an easy-going romantic comedy that’s low on laughs and high on entertainment.