Solo Mio: Film Gang Review

0:00Solomio, the romantic comedy directed by Charles Francis Canay and Daniel Canay, is something of a poor man's version of Under the Tuscan Sun. Starring Kevin James as a surprisingly serious romantic role, the film follows his character's journey through heartbreak and disappointment towards an eventual moment of self-realization, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Italy. Kevin James plays Matt Taylor, a teacher deeply in love of his longtime girlfriend Heather, made by Julianne Emory, who is also a teacher. Matt proposes and the couple plans to marry in Italy. The day finally arrives, the music begins, but Heather never comes down the aisle. She leaves Matt a note, which is never fully revealed to the audience, saying she needs space and she avoids all of Matt's attempts to contact her. Matt is now stuck with an expanse of honeymoon sweeten Italy and no possibility of a refund. Other than go home, he decides to stay and mingle with the other honeymooning couples on the tour.

1:00His mornings are spent at a local cafe where he meets Gia, played with a plumb by Nicole Gromato, the cafe's manager. She helps him adjust to Italian culture, at one point even rescuing his wallet from a group of pickpocketing kids and encourages him to embrace a more carefree outlook on life. Matt also spends time with two other honeymooning couples on the tour, played by Alison Hannigan and Kim Coats and Jonathan Rumi and Julie Serta. While they add some humor to the story, their back stories are never fully developed and quite frankly even aren't really necessary for the film's eventual outcome. Hannigan in particular is under use, which is unfortunate given her strong comedic talents. There is also a secondary character, the cafe owner, Vincenzo, played by Giancarlo Bartolome, whose role and backstory remains somewhat unclear. As Matt and Gia grow closer, it becomes evident that there is more to their connection than the first appears.

2:02Without giving away any spoilers, audiences may be surprised to discover that Kevin James possesses a very impressive, biotone singing voice, think Andrea Bocelli. It is also refreshing to see him step into a more dramatic role since he is best known for broad comedies. The script was written by Kevin James himself, and I'm always intrigued when actors write their own screenplays. Often they have a clear version of the story that they want to sell, but some elements get lost when the film is fully realized. Other films written by actors such as LA Story by Steve Martin or that thing you do by Tom Hanks occasionally suffer from a similar issue, whose side characters and plot threads feel underdeveloped in the rush to reach the heart of the story. Still, for those who enjoy a light-hearted romantic comedy, Solo Meal is an enjoyable and pleasant escape. Audiences looking for a story of love loss and perhaps found again will likely find it charming. For the KSQD film game, this is Molly Sullivan.