Audiences can be forgiven for wondering ‘haven’t I already seen that?’ when The Worst Week of My Life is mentioned; chances are, at least one iteration has already ranked among their viewing. First, the title sprang from a popular British television sitcom, circa 2004. Then, no less than three American versions eventuated, as well as a German-language adaptation. Now, Italian writer/director Alessandro Genovesi has turned the concept into his first feature film.
With its focus on the anarchic, chaotic antics surrounding a wedding, the popularity of the plot is understandable – and in La peggior settimana della mia vita, the well-worn formula still applies. Recalling every similarly-themed effort to grace screens large and small, there’s no escaping the familiar in the script co-written with star Fabio De Luigi, with cliches and tropes aplenty. Frivolous bridesmaids, overbearing mother-in-laws, eccentric relatives, uppity ministers, interfering ex-girlfriends and unfortunate pets are all accounted for; so too, outfit mishaps, awkward rehearsals and late aisle arrivals.
As Paolo (De Luigi, Love is in the Air) prepares to marry Margherita (Cristiana Capotondi, Kryptonite!) in six days’ time, their impending nuptials are plagued with problems. His new in-laws – Margherita’s mother (Monica Guerritore, Sandrine in the Rain), father (Antonio Catania, Bar Sport), grandmother (Gisella Sofio, The Big Heart of Girls) and sister (Nadir Caselli, A Flat for Three) – are less than enthused with his presence, personality, or penchant for ruining their careful plans. His best man (Alessandro Siani, Welcome to the North) is preoccupied his own romantic options. His father (Andrea Mingardi, TV’s Flipper) arrives with a young new girlfriend (Italian singer Arisa) on his arm. Everything that can go wrong does, with Paolo at the centre of the chaos.
Though stylishly shot, The Worst Week of My Life relies upon content as predictable as expected and proves as uninterested in treading new ground as most of its ilk; however, more concerning than the film’s adherance to convention are its rapidly deflating comedic returns. The tried, the tested, and the typical are packaged for farcical amusement, at first with a modicum of slapstick success anchored in the rampant silliness. Alas, too swiftly repetition sinks in, the same jokes soon unable to elicit even sly smiles – despite the relentlessly jaunty, overtly whimsical soundtrack trying to convince otherwise.
Accordingly, Genovesi tasks his cast with maintaining momentum, some faring better than others. Following the trend for actors-turned-writers, De Luigi gifts himself with the best material as the sympathetic everyman at the feature’s apex; though his protagonist is barely fleshed out, the supporting characters are the epitome of one-note creations, as evident in the corresponding performances. The director suffers the same mixed fortunes, demonstrating deft with physical sequences, but unable to recognise when a scene needs reining in. The final product, too, mirrors its components: as a remake of oft-used material, The Worst Week of My Life shows signs of promise, but can’t venture beyond the usual.
Rating: 2 ½ stars out of 5
The Worst Week of My Life (La peggior settimana della mia vita)
Director: Alessandro Genovesi
Italy, 2011, 93 mins
Lavazza Italian Film Festival
www.italianfilmfestival.com.au
Melbourne: 2 – 27 October
Brisbane: 3 – 22 October
Canberra: 8 October – 3 November
Sydney: 9 October – 3 November
Adelaide: Oct 22 – Nov 11
Perth: 10 – 23 October
Byron Bay: 11 – 20 October
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