Everybody Wants to Be Italian

Fishmonger Jake Bianski (Jay Jablonski) has a bit of a problem. He's madly in love with his teenage sweetheart, Isabella (Marisa Petroro)--even though they broke up eight years before and she is now married with three kids. But just as he does every year on their "anniversary," he shows up at her doorstep with flowers, and an engagement ring, wearing a new suit, begging her to come back to him. The workers at his fish store in Boston's North End--Steve Bottino (John Kapelos), Gianluca Tempesti (John Enos III), and Aldo "Papa" Tempesti (Richard Libertini)--offer him constant advice, trying to get Jake to give up on Isabella and find a new girl. They fix him up on a blind date with veterinarian Marisa Costa (Cerina Vincent) at an Italian singles night, where both Jake and Marisa pretend to be Italian in order to attract each other. But their first real date is a disaster, with Jake talking nonstop about his girlfriend, as if Isabella is still a part of his life. Nonetheless, Jake and Marisa start becoming friends, but things get complicated when they consider something more--as does Isabella. Writer-director Jason Todd Ipson's second feature film--following 2006's horror film, UNREST, which also starred Jablonski and Petroro--is a heartfelt romantic comedy about love and trust and about grasping life's opportunities. Scream queen Vincent (CABIN FEVER) plays Marisa with an endearing sweetness, while Jablonski manages to make Jake charming despite the character's many serious flaws. But it's Kapelos, Enos III, and the always great Libertini who drive the film as the three very funny wise men--especially Kapelos (THE BREAKFAST CLUB) as Steve, a gruff fish guy studying for his doctorate in psychology with an opinion on just about everything. (jakelijan virallinen teksti)