The Italians

The movie shifts in subject and tone to focus on marital issues between Angelina and Vincenzo and then shifts abruptly into sentimental drama. Somehow by that point we still feel connected to the family and the conclusion is genuinely touching.

What ends up being the most interesting part of the film is the casting of Estes. This is not a typical role for the actor and he brings some life to the film. It just isn’t enough.

Breslin, as so often, is the standout.

Typical Italian tropes (food, loudness) are mitigated by deft comic performances, especially from veteran Lanie Kazan and the grown-up Abigail Breslin. The heart of the story is a reminder that there is an expiration date on family and what they give us.