Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Rio Hayward All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

artzau C'mon. Aren't you glad to see a movie about Italians and Italian-Americans that's got absolutely nothing to do with the mafia, vendettas or spaghetti? This little piece is a wonderful and entertaining film about fireworks, family, food, life, death, deceit, trauma, pride and, of course, love. If you know Italians as well as I do, you'll recognize that this is all in a day's work. Stereotypes aside, they shook out the box on this one with Talia Coppola Shire, Gaincarlo Giannini, Tony DeSando and the uncompilable Anamaria Alberghetti. This latter is one year older than I am and still looks like a million dollars plus interest. Then there's Fonda the younger and Tucci. Yes, Tucci, who steals every scene he's in ala Peter Sellers. Tucci with the great eyes and great face. What could be a cheesy, maudlin, drippingly sentimental story moves quickly because of the chemistry of these people who play wonderfully off of each other and keep you amused with the same Mediterranean hyperbole you saw in Moonstruck, My Cousin Vinny, The Rose Tattoo and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Now, we all know that every Italian family does not go into a state of crisis every day but the complexity of Italian familial relations does give us food for thought in delightful comedies such as this one.

gradyharp THE WHOLE SHEBANG is a movie made for television, a category that in some circles places a hex, but in the case of HBO films it is a definite plus! This little unpretentious story plays like a sweet foreign film like 'Life is Beautiful' and is directed (George Zaloom) with zest and played by an all star cast that makes it a fine evening's entertainment.The Bazzini family of Neptune, New Jersey owns a fireworks business in competition with the Zito family whose entrepreneurial instincts are decidedly more 'American'. The head of the Bazinni family is Pop (Giancarlo Giannini) and Contessa (Talia Shire) and the heir apparent is Frank (Christian Boucher) who is a fine pyrotechnician but is unfaithful to his non-Italian wife Val (Bridget Fonda). As the story opens Frank is perfecting the 'blue' firework and while working he is distracted by his latest lady conquest who diverts his attention causing the whole Bazinni Fireworks Plant to literally blow up. Though the family is devastated at Frank's death, Pop looks for the next head of the company to replace Frank, and at the wake the Zito family Lady Zito (Anna Maria Alberghetti looking terrific!) inserts her son Joey (Anthony DeSando) into an evil-planned courtship of the newly widowed Val in hopes of overtaking the Bazinni business.Meanwhile, in Naples Italy we meet Giovanni Bazinni (Stanley Tucci, in fine form as a comedian!), a cousin to the American Bazinnis and a poor café musician unlucky in love and life. He repeatedly attempts suicide but each attempt is comically thwarted. His passion is for Maria (Jo Champa) a gold digger slut who dismisses Giovanni's affections with cold harshness. News of the Bazinni disaster in America arrives and Giovanni is sent to New Jersey to inherit the fireworks business. Once in New Jersey in flounders around the language and the business, is attracted to Val and to her son Bobby (Alexander Milani) and is adored by the Bazinni clan. In time Giovanni's good intentions often backfire (!) and the politics between the Bazinnis and the Zitos collide. The resolution of the story proves that honesty and family ties and creative perseverance result in happy endings.The 'Italian gioio' created by this fine cast is infectious and each of the characters adds to the recipe with style. Tucci is in top form as are Giannini, Fonda, and Alberghetti. They make this rather slight script worth believing, never coming across as imitating but as embodying their roles. The frequent use of fireworks is joyous and well done and adds to the sparkle of the film. Not a great movie but certainly a solid one for a tender summer night's entertainment.Grady Harp

dizzystone I loved this movie -- it was really funny. Bridget Fonda looks hot. Stanley Tucci is the best he's ever been and fireworks are great. I loved the sequence where the family eats dinner and everyone kicks each other under the table -- it was laugh-out-loud phunnnnnnny!

reilly-4 This is one of the funniest and most charming movies I have ever seen. If you liked Moonstruck or Big Fat Greek Wedding -- you'll love this one. Saw it at one of those recruited previews and the audince laughed and cried the whole 90minutes.What are you idots (filmmakers) waiting for? Put this movie in the theatres so I can go see it again!!!!!!!!!!