Natale a 5 stelle

Don't believe the extreme negative reviews. This is actually an entertaining and funny film. The acting and script are surprisingly good. You need to watch it in Italian with English subtitles. The Italian to English translation is wonderful and conveys the humor very well. It made me laugh out loud multiple times, and is a great lighthearted way to spend a holiday afternoon. I do enjoy Italian cinema, and some of the actors were familiar to me. The humor is reminiscent of "weekend at Bernie's". I really do not understand the multiple negative reviews giving one star rating - it is far from boring!

This film serves better on a theater stage. It is a classic theater piece put together for the big screen.

It's like a theater piece, maybe actually it is, and it's trying to be something like 'His Girl Friday'. But it's not even remotely comparable. On the other hand, it doesn't deserve 1 star rating, like in some other reviews. It has it's moments. But only moments.

The old fashioned plot involves a couple of married Italian politicians, Giulia and Franco, who plan to betray their respective spouses during a "working weekend" in Budapest.

Two thirds of the story take place in the suite of a 5 stars hotel, which is a clear sign of a movie made on the cheap side. The plot includes stale cliches, such as hiding in the wardrobe and jealous husbands barging in.

Martina Stella (Giulia), a curvaceous fake blonde, her mane flowing, plays her part tottering around in black lingerie and high heels, in the worst Italian tradition of sexy comedies. Ghini (Franco), used to be a sexy boy, but in the movie looks grizzled and old enough to be her father.

It is hard to believe this is a movie made in 2018, as the occasional references to the current political situation remind us. The three women in the story are all fake blondes, who spend most of their on-screen time half naked; the men are stereotype Italians: sleazy, cheating liars, mama boys and petty criminals.

For a comedy, do not expect much laughters, because all this has been done much better and many times before.

Maybe because I visited Budapest and recognized a lot of the scenery. The plot keeps getting funnier and funnier. I liked it. Surprised to see so many others didn't.