Lição de Amor

I couldn't really find one word with which to sum up this movie. I would opt for predictable, but aside from the ending, I personally was not able to predict the direction (or deviations)of this story. Similarly, the words 'Sappy' or 'Cliche' cannot be so easily applied to this movie due to one huge, contributing factor in the story: the age gap between protagonists. 'Scusa Ma Ti Chiamo Amore' or 'Sorry, If I Love You' tells the story of one 37 year old man who has been left by his long-term girlfriend. Through a series of events, he encounters a 17 year old girl. The two are both very much attracted to each other and after mere days of meeting, begin a relationship. The relationship is more than just mutual lust, and the two soon become a somewhat unconventional but very much committed couple. If you remove the age gap between characters, this movie does become a very boring and 'been-there-done-that' cliché. But it's not. It's a sweet story of an unconventional relationship (which may have been shocking years ago, but now seems to be becoming socially acceptable). It's also a cute and at times genuinely funny flick to pass the afternoon with. I would recommend this as a light, albeit very interesting story with a somewhat unoriginal story line which is made unique by various twists and turns.

I had a wonderful time watching this movie, although I can understand how other people, from a different age group or cultural background, could feel differently. I watched it on cable by pure accident, on a lazy Sunday morning, in bed, with my wife. We had never heard about it before.

Although the story is thin, it echoed on us. The culture, ambiance and events, although caricatured, had a lot to do with our lives and our friends' lives. There are obvious silly moments but the movie talked to us. We ended up teasing each other, making analogies with things in our past, remembering our moments and our friends.

All in all, it warmed our hearts and we had a great time watching it. Most other movies do not reward us in such a way.

BTW, Michela Quattrociocche (Niki), probably 18 when the movie was made, is delicious to look at and worth watching. According to my wife, the guy (Raoul Bova) is great too, and better looking than the girl. I disagree.

The Italians have a great reputation in the comedy department. I spend great part of the year in Italy and I've seen the work of Dino Risi, Pietro Germi and some other geniuses. This film doesn't belong to the same universe. Not for a long, long, long shot. Filmed indifferently, based on a popular teen age volume that one has to make an effort to imagine what the book was like. The film was directed by the author so I'm sure he was religiously faithful to the source. The dullness of this "romantic comedy" makes one wonder. The film is a top grossing box office champ in Italy. I keep wondering, why? There is nothing in it that would allure audiences anywhere. A 37 year old in a love relationship with a 17 year old. He looks over 37 and behaves like a teen ager. She looks older than 17 and behaves like a brat. What an unwholesome combination. He, Raoul Bova is in big star in his own country but his appeal eludes me completely. He is the most boring presence in the screen. So, the Los Angeles/Italia Festival at the Chinese Theater of Hollywood Boulevard started, as far as I'm concerned, with a dud of major proportions. Let's hope it improves.

I wouldn't watch Scusa Ma Ti Chiamo Amore if you were looking for a profound, deep love story that makes you reflect more on the nature of love and relationships. Michela and Raoul are cute together, but the chemistry was lacking between them. Or perhaps it was the character Raoul played (Alex), who didn't seem very passionate towards her.

With that said though, I found it worthy to watch just for the pleasure of seeing gorgeous Raoul Bova. I discovered Scusa Ma Ti Chiamo Amore after developing an interest in him from Under the Tuscan Sun. I'll admit I'm a sucker for the stereotypical charming romantic Italian man that Raoul portrayed in that movie.

After watching Scusa, however, I felt he was so much better in that because the portrayal was more realistic -- he was more a regular endearing Italian, than the stereotypical one that you see in Hollywood-type movies that only focuses on the charming, flowery, romantic side. For that reason alone, I really liked and appreciated the movie.

I have seen this movie quite by chance. And at the very first few minutes into the movie, I was already starting to think that it was going to be a total waste of time. But alas the story quite slowly and bit unrealistic started to roll on and work on me.

The plot is quite simple - a much younger girl falls in love with older man (with 20 years of difference between them) and vice versa. And actually it is all so much a cliché seen in so many other romantic movies, that it is not worth of telling more. The very good addition to this very familiar love story (is there yet a single chance that not all good romantic ideas were already used on screen, uh?) are quotes of very different famous people on love which just pop up every time now and then on screen and thus not only add to the story, but kind of 'make' chapters of this movie.

So if you can take it in the beginning, this movie might be a nice and romantic movie for you to see. Don't search for a deep meaning, let it flow, and it will work just well.