The Perfect Dinner

Although I don't know any of the actors, I liked the synopsis and decided to watch. Honestly? It was a big surprise. Good actors. Good story. Worth to watch. I have always dreamed to see stories where something bad becomes good. Well this is one of those and quite realistic. Someone who lived with the Camorra (Naples's criminal organization equivalent to the Sicilian mafia) who took an unexpected opportunity to convert his life in something good. It gives hope. It's sentimental. Although the caliber of the actors is not from the Hall Of Fame, still I did appreciate the main characters. As mentioned in the title, I believe that the film deserves better recognition.

I'll admit that I watched this on an airplane, so the lovely pictures of exquisite food made me cry over the dreadful hot pocket of broccoli and cheese my captors served. The movie establishes the premise of a soft-hearted mobster with an almost believable back story. Unlike most mob-related dramadies (think "The Sopranos") this movie uses scenes of guns and gore sparingly. The theme of cooking and serving good food as redemption develops organically. The cast delivers low key culinary tourism, with shots of beautiful food and the fiery kitchen. A dinner debate over whether food is art, and a running commentary on the need for "soul" in creating memorable meals make this a film I will test my future meals against. I found myself wondering whether that scene was shot with real chefs. La Cena Perfetta makes me want to try to recreate my mother's bread.

The Perfect Dinner came up in a film club that I belong to, or I probably wouldn't have seen it. Italian comedies seem to have a different sense of humour to me, and I struggle to laugh, often cringe. My fault maybe. The plot involves a sort of adopted 'son' of a Neapolitan Mafia Boss, who is exiled to Rome for being 'too nice' for the rough stuff in Naples. Son's new position is to run a restaurant to launder the ill-gotten gains from the south. He meets an ex chef from the restaurant who has talent and the hunger for a Michelin star but failed to make a success at the site. She also has 'attitude' and is attractive. See where it's going.

The movie had not been running that long when I said to myself -"told you so" as the script started to roll out predictably, with defined characters and the pushed humour. However, I did relax and it got better. As an example of the feel-gooder European comedy, which it is, it is very good. You can sit back and watch Puccini and love it with some hard to believe story, Puccini could have written this. (maybe sadder end.) The work is saved by a combination- not bad script, a bit predictable but with some little twists. - Direction is simple but good and effective. - Acting is very good. I have never seen Salvatore Esposito, the 'son' before, but here he was very good, likeable and engaging and anchored the film. Greta Scarano the feisty Consuelo and Gianlucca Colucci the comic relief, Rosario, were also excellent. Some of the scenes such as the "Gang of Chefs Party" felt quite real. I was pleasantly surprised and quite enjoyed it.

Beautiful smart and layed back romantic comedy drama with just the right sprinkles of mobb involvement and the life of those born in certain areas of italy where the Camorra has it claws deep in the society ,evrething nice wrapped up in a gourmet cousine ambience with lots of positive things to learn and digest after ,truly recommend it to anyone who lives in italy or understands italian language at least and why not to the international audience .Nice Movie Warning! These film will make you hungry!verry hungry!

Unfortunately, this cringe-making film didn't even make me hungry.

I should have known better and avoided this unsavory farce.

The only positive aspect to this three-course menu of typical Italian clichés (mafiosi, people waving their hands while screaming at each other, completely unrealistic situations...) is that it made me feel like watching again 'Big Night' (1996) by Campbell Scott and Stanley Tucci, and maybe cook a huge 'timpano' with some friends.