My Name Is Tanino

A young, clue-free Italian finds and eludes trouble on numerous occasions as he journeys to and through America in director Paolo Virzi's 2001 comedy My Name Is Tanino. Naïve optimist Tanino (Corrado Fortuna) gets romantically involved with an American tourist named Sally (Rachel McAdams), who happens to visit his hometown one fateful summer. After Sally's vacation ends, Tanino decides to follow her to the U.S. -- not realizing that Sally's interest in him ended when her vacation ended. Upon arriving in America... A fantastic journey through an hilarious gallery of American portraits, a eird and funny movie, an amazing mix of comedy, coming of age, on the road... A must to see! Wonderful Rachel Mc Adams (starring in Mean Girls) in the ironic role of a sweet melancolic and sexy wasp Icon!

A young, clue-free Italian finds and eludes trouble on numerous occasions as he journeys to and through America in director Paolo Virzi's 2001 comedy My Name Is Tanino. Naïve optimist Tanino (Corrado Fortuna) gets romantically involved with an American tourist named Sally (Rachel McAdams), who happens to visit his hometown one fateful summer. After Sally's vacation ends, Tanino decides to follow her to the U.S. -- not realizing that Sally's interest in him ended when her vacation ended. Upon arriving in America... A fantastic journey through an hilarious gallery of portraits, a weird and funny movie, an amazing mix of comedy, coming of age, on the road... A must to see! Wonderful Rachel Mc Adams (starring in Mean Girls) in the ironic role of a sweet melancholic and sexy wasp Icon!

I'm always a bit lukewarm on these movies where a character makes a bunch of bad choices that lead him on a series of misadventures. It doesn't help when the character is a bit unpleasant like Tanino, as he comes off a bit sleazy and unlikable. I wasn't a fan of the performance from Corrado Fortuna, and there are definitely moments when I just don't care what happens to him. However, I will admit that for a large portion of the film he's not being an actively mean-spirited guy. He tends to act like he doesn't comprehend what's going on around him, and when he's surrounded by the American family that he barely understands it was the best part of the film. The entire movie kind of goes dramatically downhill after that sequence, and ends on a truly lackluster note with his dream director. I admit that there were a handful of moments that made me chuckle, but most of the way through My Name is Tanino didn't do much that I found entertaining.

You could say this film is about a young Italian in America constantly running away from difficult situations,or you could say it is about youth and growing up by confronting ideals with reality. But it also shows different lifestyles, (the average well to do American family, the Italian large family, the impoverished artist). The performances are good quality, helped by an on the spot casting for example corrado fortuna's (he plays the main character) expressions are quite hilarious or even just his out of place presence create a comic outcome. Of course it is even funnier if you are or have been in contact with Italian culture (and i mean not just from films and TV!), especially from the south, otherwise Castelluzzo,the town from where the main character comes from, might remind you of any little village where everyone knows everyone and everything about everyone. There isn't specifically a plot but you could describe it as the comic adventures of a young Italian in America but that might make it sound like a kids book.

Alltoghether it is a memorable simple little film that you will probably enjoy.

There are two power points with this film:

Rachel McAdams debuts as the ultimate eye magnet, with some sweet acting.

Tanino is so very Sicilian in contrast to the WASP American family that the premise is very much alive in every single scene. He being himself suffices to underline the plot time and again.

Other than these two, well, the story is highly modest and appeals mostly to people who are into Italian culture. There's nothing to whip your imagination or elevate you in ways you don't expect. Professionally made with a very economical approach both to the story and the production, that's an alright film.