Solo Mio
- 21 minutes ago
- 3 min read
I can't remember the last time I've enjoyed a romantic comedy more than SOLO MIO, with Kevin James effortlessly generating big laughs and giant goodwill toward his character.
How can you not cheer for this guy?
Over the opening credits, we watch 4th grade art teacher Matt Taylor (James) propose in class to fellow teacher Heather (Julie Ann Emery). Promising a wonderful life ahead, a wedding and a honeymoon in Rome, life seems as perfect as it gets.
The credits end, the wedding begins and the picture perfect setting soars. There's just one catch. Heather doesn't show up, leaving a "Dear Matt" letter along with her wedding dress behind.
James finds the perfect middle ground between devastated groom to be and wounded every man, just trying to figure out what he's going to do with a prepaid Honeymoon tour across Italy for the week ahead.
Alessandro Carbonara is great as Marcello, the concierge at Matt's hotel. He encourages Matt to stay, to enjoy what he's already booked for the next week. Explore Rome!
This leads to some big laughs as the Honeymoon Couples package kicks off with a ride around the city on bicycles built for two, Matt's back seat noticeably empty. We all know James is a gifted comedian from his many seasons on "The King of Queens" and hilarious standup, but he finds a real groove here, balancing more drama along with the laughs. But the laughs are still big, he's hilarious.
Two other couples on the week long honeymoon package deliver big laughs.
Jules (Kim Coates) and Meghan (Alyson Hannigan) are celebrating their third marriage.
To each other.
Coates (Sons of Anarchy) damn near steals the movie with his over-the-top, who cares what anyone thinks antics. He's very funny.
Neil (Jonathan Roumie) and Donna (Julie Cerda) are two therapists whose constant validation and justification of their feelings plays perfectly off of Coates and Hannigan.
Rounding out the cast is Nicole Grimaudo as Gia, the owner of the cafe around the corner from Matt's hotel. Grimaudo is perfectly cast in a role that becomes the center of everything happening in Italy. Knowing that Nicole doesn't speak much English and learned her dialogue phonetically makes her performance all the more special. Gia's a great character, delivering some very unexpected twists, the last of which delivers a flawless ending.
I had not heard of the Kinnane Brothers, but their stamp is all over this winning, heartfelt film. Charles and Daniel Kinnane directed it, John and Patrick Kinnane co-wrote the screenplay with Kevin James; Peter Kinnane edited; and William Kinnane, Brendan Kinnane and their brother-in-law Jeffrey Azize served as executive producers.
Who are these guys? They've created something rare, a romantic comedy that you could enjoy with the entire family, without ever feeling like it's pandering to a Disney farce mode.
James has never been better and I haven't rooted for someone this hard since Sean Astin's "Rudy" fought to make the team.
A true "feel good" film that leaves you smiling ear-to-ear, SOLO MIO is a perfect movie for any night curled up with that special someone in your life, or if you don't have one, inspiring the hope that they're somewhere right around the corner, waiting for your lives to connect.
"You have to try. Don't be afraid..."
James and the Kinnane's get a very enjoyable B+.
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