Tchin-Tchin

It is hard to believe that two screen legends could combine to create such a turkey. I don't recall this film being shown in the USA and if it was, it was understandably not widely promoted. As a long time admire of both Julie Andrews and Marcello Mastrianni, I looked forward to seeing this film after discovering it in a video catalog. I had never heard of it and expected much more. How a prim English lady like Julie Andrew's character could be in the least attracted to the drunken, aging, unkempt sot portrayed by Mastrianni strains all credulity. The fact that there are few reviews of this film on this site confirms that it justifiably did not have wide circulation. We who remember the chemistry of Marcello with Sophia Loren and the multi-talented Miss Andrews having shined in many roles are saddened that they would lend themselves to this shallow farce.

I always like seeing movies, and in particular romances, starring middle-aged actors, because Hollywood can be a very agist town that relegates anyone over fifty to kooky grandparents. A Fine Romance stars Julie Andrews and Marcello Mastroianni, and it has a very intriguing premise. Julie's husband and Marcello's wife run away together, and the jilted spouses meet up hoping to come up with a plan to get them back. Unfortunately, the follow-through after the initial set-up isn't that great. The screenplay is very odd, so don't be prepared for anything mainstream about this "fine" romance. For one example, Julie has a 22-year-old son who throws temper tantrums; for another, Julie checks Marcello into a health spa for no apparent reason.

The biggest focus of the film are the two vastly different characters. Julie is English, prim, proper, and unexpressive. Marcello is an Italian drunkard who weeps one moment and makes a pass in another. Although I don't know why Marcello's character wasn't just written to be French. He looked, talked, and acted far more French than Italian, and it wouldn't have been the first time foreign actors changed nationalities and expected audiences not to notice. But, with these two opposites failing to attract, they also have two different approaches to the screenplay. Julie takes her role as the jilted wife seriously, and whenever she speaks you think it's a drama. Marcello is the full-time comic relief who's under the impression that the film is a comedy. As I said, the film is odd, from start to finish, so know what you're getting into when you rent it.

In an otherwise bland comedy about unfaithful spouses. Individually and together, Mastroianni and Andrews (an unlikely team) are magic. He plays a slightly clownish Italian and she, an uptight Britisher. They come together when their spouses run off together. The ending helps redeem this slight film, watchable only because of the great stars.

A nice film. It is slow, but I like the pace of this one and the memorable dialog between Andrews and Mastorianni.

The real gem of this film is the soundtrack provided by the master - Pino Donaggio. What a soundtrack! It fits so perfectly to this story and gives some much needed depth to the scenes.

The soundtrack was released under the alternate name for the film Tchin Tchin. It is available on the major streaming platforms and contains the instrumental tracks from the film and 2 songs performed by vocalist Scarlett. Great stand-alone listening.

A good film to put on and enjoy one lazy afternoon without having fret over any missed plot points. Put this one on and have a laugh.

Warm, kind, but hysterical sense of humour. Life is full of disasters, and people are so vulnerable - but it'll not be that bad if you don't take yourself too seriously. You can even have a whole lot of FUN.

No crashing cars, no monsters, no killings, no cash-hunting - it's just so human! Must see.