Looking Italian Review

After an unfortunate incident causes him to leave the "family business" and move to Los Angeles, Vinny Pallazzo is living a quiet life. When his nephew, Anthony, moves in with him, Vinny slowly learns to live life to the fullest again. However, Anthony is young, and is living life in the fast lane. He brings out the demons from Vinny's past. Now Vinny must try to stop Anthony from making the same mistakes that changed his life forever.

by Kim Newman |
Published on
Release Date:

01 Jan 1998

Running Time:

97 minutes

Certificate:

18

Original Title:

Looking Italian

Traumatised ex-wiseguy Jay Acovone tries to stay straight after years in the 'Family business' by working in a Los Angeles bookstore.

After a while he's joined by his often-shirtless stud nephew (Matt LeBlanc), a kid who likes the life on the wrong side of the law and who seems likely to get into the way of violence or even a bullet if his uncle doesn't look out for him.

A messy melodrama with lumps of knockabout Singles comedy and a sniff of Scorsese Catholic angst, the film moves forward quite well if slightly slow paced. Also we are treated to an unlikely vigilante shoot-out in the hood. which although doesn't really fit the tone of the rest of the film at least wakes you up a bit.

LeBlanc does a decent job of the troblesome nephew but you ultimately don't really care what happens to either of them.

Dreary Mafia tale.
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