Mambo Italiano

Entertainment Weekly Scott Brown

This is feel-good filmmaking, to be sure, but the culture clash here is more than a meaningless vehicle for fizzy wish fulfillment. The not-unpleasant result is hearty Italian fare with the half-life of Chinese takeout.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Intent on offering viewers a good time yet manages to sneak in considerable substance in a disarming, even old-fashioned manner.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

So desperately eager to please: Gaudreault doesn't offer much in the way of wit or originality, but he's determined to win us over with sheer enthusiasm.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Patterns itself after the Greek model -- that is, more ethnic humour with a contemporary twist.

Boston Globe Janice Page

No sophisticated dance, but it moves about with an open heart. And hey, it's at least as funny as that Greek thing.

TV Guide Ken Fox

Beneath the heavy accents, wild gesticulating, slaps to the head and garish flocked wallpaper, there's an awful lot of heart.

Empire Caroline Westbrook

Lacks sparkle, and finally tips its gallery of colourful protagonists into the realm of caricature.

Variety David Rooney

The broad comedy is somewhat strained and obvious, and the hyper-real atmosphere encourages the cast to slice the prosciutto a little thickly. But the film's sweet-natured ingenuousness proves reasonably contagious.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

You don't have to be gay or Italian or live in Canada to enjoy Mambo Italiano, but a tolerance for ethnic mugging helps.

San Francisco Chronicle Carla Meyer

A coming-out comedy that mines every cliche of cloistered Italian culture. But like "Greek Wedding," Mambo has enough funny moments to save it.

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

Likable but relentlessly trivial.

Chicago Reader J.R. Jones

The "Big Fat Wedding" formula dictates a certain amount of ugly-duckling fantasy along with the ethnic scenery chewing.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

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.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Unless you think "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" was the height of genius, there's little reason to sit though another version.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Sean Axmaker

More than painful to behold, it's simply insincere in a film determined to undermine gay stereotypes.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Scott Tobias

If Gaudreault's 90-minute pilot ever makes it to television, French-Canadians can look forward to their own Italian version of A.K.A. Pablo.

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck

Ethnic and sexual stereotypes receive equally clumsy treatment in this Canadian comedy.

The New York Times Dave Kehr

As Angelo, Mr. Kirby has a boyish charm, which is probably the best that can be said for this film as well.

Village Voice Ed Halter

Old annoying ethnic family stereotypes meet new annoying gay-relationship stereotypes in this candidate for "Kiss Me Guido's" heretofore uncontested niche.

LA Weekly Chuck Wilson

More dispiriting than the caricatured Italian families is the sense that, by picture's end, the filmmakers have neutered Angelo, so that his sexual energy is dulled, made non-threatening -- the perfect son after all.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

This film might have been daringly funny 10 years ago, even with its broadest elements intact. Now it's comfortable as old slippers and unthreatening as a sleeping kitten.

Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan

The script is inane, and though Ferri has some funny moments, the acting is annoying or hopelessly bland.

Dallas Observer David Ehrenstein

If any further indication were needed of the fact that gay has gone mainstream, this flaccid farce provides definitive proof, for it's as forced and unfunny as subpar Sandra Dee.

Premiere Addison MacDonald

Perfectly harmless but by no means cinematic. It is unapologetically vying for the same moviegoers that "Greek Wedding" connected with last summer.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Lacks that outrageous effrontery that might have socked it to its intended audience.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Disappointing flop that is best left off your dance card.