American Fango

MOVIE DETAILS

Rating: 6.7 out of 10
Director: Gabriele Altobelli
Writer: Gabriele Altobelli, Brittany McComas, Kathleen Randolph
Star: Joseph D’Onofrio, Deborah Twiss, Samantha Scaffidi
Genres: Comedy/Drama/Romance
Release Date: December 5, 2017 (United States)

American Fango

One man, originating from one male and one female writers three (and more) women so to speak or in a manner of speaking. The hope for a lampooning of an archaic romantic-comedy trope is possible, if not realized. A young Italian man is besotted over a visiting American in “American Fango” (2017) and follows her back in hopes to win her heart. As he begins to soak in the culture his passion for acting, life and yes, women; takes over as he finds a new life in America. Rapidly we see ideas upon ideas pile up and storylines upon storylines sprinkle into what could have been a romantic recapturing of Europe’s love for New York City.

Francesco meets crooks, lovers and at one point; a better movie. He meets old friends, new lovers, stereotypes and stretches this ninety-minute film into two hours. Finding employment in a restaurant that happens to be run by an old acting acquaintance, Francesco struggles as a waiter while making friends and striking a sexual relationship with the manager’s daughter.

This should have been the film but Francesco’s ‘American Dream’ realization was not to find the woman but work at his dream; make friends and forge a life. There’s rich authenticity from producers that have worked this circuit; been an extra or runner and know filmmaking difficulties all too well. Never really feeling like it sits at the forefront (a lot of this is down to pacing), it’s compacted away behind tangents about characters we neither care nor recognize.

Francesco: their Italian heart-throb lead Gabriele Altobelli & Brittany McComas’ writing around him is problematical to say the least. In safe terms this character is wholly unlikeable even with Brando Bonvier giving it his all to remain charismatic.

“‘American Fango’ is many things but above all else it’s a love affair with New York rekindling a historical passion which seems to have fallen out of favour, resigned itself to reverence in a post-9/11 cinematic world.”

Unfortunately, some of these characters are not nice to look at. Their motives for malicious actions come out of nowhere; two-dimensional thought process behind them. The flirting ‘cougars’ looking for nothing other than a handsome Italian snack in Francesco or Laura (Lacie Marie Meyer) who threatens his employment once she cheats on him. Not manipulative actual tension but oppositions placed in Francesco’s way by Altobelli and McComa making for a character that never adapts, changes or works for his eventual ending.

Quite often does his tactic of flirtation revolve around the different thematic of the movie food. Our adoration with food is quickly becoming a forefront narrative tool for cinema; “Chef” (2014), “Julie & Julia” (2009), “The Hundred-Foot Journey” (2014). Visually this works with cramped conditions of the small restaurant, smart cinematography around dining but that’s as far as we get.

Less so about romantic desire, more so about New York is “American Fango”; rekindling a historical passion which seems to have fallen out of favour resigning itself to reverence in a post-9/11 cinematic world. Norah Ephron’s ‘You’ve Got Mail’ (1998) is where Altobelli sees the city through with his feature debut – it rejuvenates a historical fascination of America from Europeans and desire for the ‘old’ from Americans.

“American Fango” is about redemption as a first work, which is already a win for any up and coming woman writer to have their voice heard.”

It’s not that different locations serve as narrative point of view but rather that they are used as an opportunity to show the city. It’s commendable, all those pretty pictures playing with light and shadow but it’s empty. We’re in places where thousands should be, not four awkward crew members shuffling around in parties.

Fango means mud in Italian or a dessert consisting of chocolate gelato. There’s something muddy about the namesake script itself, performed with the emotional range of damp earth. It’s a shame because underneath lurks not only a homage to American rom-coms of the ’80s and early ’90s but also an old Italian directors’ cinematic style attempt by the visual team and music composition.

‘American Fango’ has redemption as a debut piece, which is already a triumph for any emerging female writer to reach an audience. Unfortunately that doesn’t give you a pass when the film feels uneven, confusing and even unlikable at times

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