Santa Maradona

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funny and with a nice sense of lived-in familiarity.  </div> <bR> <div> But the problem with the film is that it hangs its most major dramatic heft - Andrea's inability to get a job and his pursuit of the lovely Dolores - on its most routine and underdeveloped sections.  Why Andrea - who seems bright, charming, well-dressed - cannot find employment, is unbelievable as anything more than a screenplay contrivance.  And the relationship between Andrea and Dolores is underdeveloped; unexplored.  It's all pretty much a surface job, and when Dolores takes some surprising turns of her own that seem provocative, the film doesn't really know what to do with her.  </div> <bR> <div> If only the film would have focused on the intensity between Andrea and Bart, and explored the issue of adult male bonding, the push and pull between acting like boys but living as men along with the real-world obstacles that behavior creates, it would have been far more interesting.  Still, there are small details that delight - Andrea's obsession with American celebrity gossip and a hilarious deconstruction of <I>Basic Instinct</I> are a couple of the wittier ones.  </div> <bR> <div> On a technical level, the cinematography is beautiful - the city of Turin looks radiantly romantic, the pacing is swift and the musical selections are snappy and enjoyable.  Director Marco Ponti has certainly achieved a glossy, energetic mis en scene.  If only he had a better idea of what to do with his attractive cast, stranded in a half-developed yet good-hearted coming-of-adulthood comedy.  <I>Santa Maradona</I> has moments that are fun, and a few of human truth.  But in the end, there's not much here to leave you more than mildly amused with a sense there could have been more.  </div> <bR> <div> 96 Minutes</div> <div> Not Rated</div> <div> Profanity</div> <div> Italian with English Subtitles</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> Lee Shoquist © 2002</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="617"><div> <A HREF="mailto:leeshoquist@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:leeshoquist@aol.com"><U><U>Leeshoquist.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>