When Sebastian tells his old-school Italian immigrant father, Salvo, that he is going to propose to his all-American girlfriend, Salvo insists on crashing a weekend with her tony parents.
Sebastian Maniscalco and Robert De Niro star in “About My Father,” a frequently funny, semi-autobiographical film about an immigrant Italian named Salvo and his American-born son, each coming to terms with their own identities in anticipation of the latter’s planned engagement. Sebastian’s fiancé, Ellie (Leslie Bibb), hails from a family of bluebloods – also immigrants, but with a longer lineage dating all the way back to the Mayflower.
Ellie’s mother, Tigger (Kim Cattrall), is a U.S. Senator, and her father, Bill Collins (David Rasche), is a hotel magnate, with the company’s flagship property based in Washington, D.C. Given Sebastian and Ellie’s budding relationship, the family decides to invite both of them to spend the July 4th weekend at their palatial estate in Mobile, Alabama. Reluctant to leave Salvo alone in Chicago on his favorite holiday, Sebastian initially refuses. Ellie’s parents also respond by inviting Salvo, as it would present a good chance for the prospective future in-laws to meet and get to know each other better.
In this movie, everyone has their quirks, and Ellie’s two brothers are no exception. They serve to provide some worthwhile comedic turns in the process. One of the boys is named Lucky (Anders Holm), a sycophantic and spoiled man-child. Ellie’s other brother, Doug (Brett Dier), offers a study in contrasts as he works relentlessly to achieve inner peace through meditation and music.
Tensions build due to Salvo’s working-class ethic and demeanor, which doesn’t always mix well with the Collins family’s opulent, carefree spending habits. At first, Salvo remains authentic to his instincts – he bluntly asks about the price of the Collins’ home and insists on trying to pay for his own lunch, for which Sebastian admonishes him. Hilariously, Sebastian tells his father that he can’t act like a goombah, and that he needs to dial things down. In response, Salvo goes to the other extreme. In a complete about-face, he attempts to fit in by donning a preppy plaid shirt and Bermuda shorts, chumming it up shamelessly with the locals. This, too, elicits a rebuke from Sebastian. Eventually, father and son find a happy middle ground that brings the story to a suitable, if also predictable, conclusion.
It’s worth noting that Robert De Niro initially earned his chops mainly by playing tough guys. However, starting with “Midnight Run” in 1988, De Niro began a segue into comedic films, which often grossed more than his dramatic roles. Successes such as “Analyze This” and its sequel, “Meet the Parents” and its sequel, and others demonstrated De Niro’s ability to show off his humorous side. “About My Father” continues in that vein to similarly good effect.
Co-written by stand-up comic Maniscalco along with Austen Earl, the narrative feels very much like a labor of love, with the direction by Laura Terruso competent and well-paced. While there are no real surprises involving the plot, “About My Father” nonetheless provides a solid vehicle for lots of laughs and genuine moments of sentiment between De Niro and Maniscalco that should please most audiences.
In Theaters Friday, May 26th
