Starring: Kevin James, Nicole Grimaudo, Jonathan Roumie, Alyson Hannigan, Kim Coates, Julee Cerda
A Romantic Comedy from Angel Studios?
Hmm…
I can’t say I’m a big fan of romantic comedies, but seeing Jonathan Roumie and Kevin James in the cast got my attention. I thought it would be worth giving it a shot—especially since it had probably been more than three years since I last watched a romantic comedy. Sadly, most of them aren’t appropriate to watch these days.
The film begins with the main character, Matthew (played by Kevin James), being left at the altar by his fiancée, who leaves behind only a letter explaining why.
Heartbroken and confused, the would-be groom decides to stay in Rome and still enjoy the honeymoon trip he had planned. That’s where he meets several new friends, played by Jonathan Roumie, Alyson Hannigan, Kim Coates, and Julee Cerda.
In the meantime, he meets an Italian woman (Nicole Grimaudo) at a coffee shop who quickly shows affection toward him, making it fairly clear where the story is heading.
I won’t spoil the entire plot, but it is quite predictable, and unfortunately there is nothing particularly new or interesting about it.
The scenery of Rome and the Italian countryside is beautiful, but it isn’t enough to save the film from moments of excessive language, overuse of alcohol, and a storyline where a woman with poor moral values tries to comfort the struggling main character.
Only one actor really helps carry the film: Nicole Grimaudo delivers a solid performance and brings life to many of the scenes. Unfortunately, the story itself is difficult to rescue.
Angel Studios has made much better films in the past—and I’m sure they will make many more great ones in the future. But this one feels like a missed opportunity. The funding could have been used for a much more meaningful project. We don’t need another film portraying the male character as weak—the one who needs rescuing. We need to return to real stories that inspire new generations of men. Especially when it is created by Christians.
At the time of writing this review, the film had earned about $22.5 million at the box office on a $4 million budget, so financially it was still a success. I only hope that future projects will use that success to create something more impactful.
Review
Sexuality & Nudity: 3/10 – Excessive language, immodesty, kissing
Violence: 0/10
Profanity: 0/10
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: 5/10 – Excessive use of alcohol
Frightening & Intense Scenes: 0/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Acting: 5/10
Storytelling: 3/10
Catholic Doctrine: N/A
Final rank: B-
I wouldn’t recommended, flat storyline, poor acting (besides Nicole Grimaudo). Watchable, but waste of time, also not appropriate for children.
