Solo Mio is a great date night option for those couples wanting to avoid the often awkward R rated romance movies. The film is in theaters February 6th, and if the powers that be are smart, they will make it available for home viewing before the 14th. It is the perfect cuddle on the couch streamer.
Synopsis: After being left at the altar in Rome, Matt (Kevin James) decides to go on his honeymoon alone. | 1h 40m | Rated PG for some suggestive material, brief language, violence and smoking
Often we see the PG rating and instantly think kid film or a simple made for TV movie without much emotional depth. Not the case here. Thanks to the endearing nature that Kevin James brings to most of his characters, this one is heartfelt, moving, and full of organic humor that makes the film relatable.
Solo Mio is set in Italy – if the title wasn’t clue enough – and becomes another intricate part of Matt’s journey to mend a broken heart. Rome and Tuscany are hard to beat for a romantic backdrop; even for a jilted groom. The Kinnane clan (writers and directors) make perfect use of the surroundings to push forward the love story in this one. If you adore Italy there is much here to make you long to return. The food, the people, the history, and the beauty come through in this one.
The humor is subtle and not funny just to be funny. Matt decides to keep the honeymoon tour package he had purchased and go it alone. His tour group include some well intentioned newlyweds who make it their mission to help Matt move on from the wedding that never was. They are not perfect either and there is the point made that every couple has issues, but it is how you work through them that makes a marriage.
We know James can do humor and play the bumbling leading man. Here we see a softer, kinder, and emotional James that still uses the traits we love but adds a few more deeper layers. Matt is obviously devastated to be left at the altar. It would not make sense for him to do a full 180 over night. James lets us watch Matt struggle through all the emotions while never losing the human factor.
James is supported by a cast including Jonathan Roumie, Kim Coates, Nicole Grimaudo, Alyson Hannigan, and Julee Cerda. I like that there is no ego in this one, and the characters all feel like people you would definitely meet on vacation. There is a dance to movies like this one and sometimes you lead and other times you follow. This had a balance of different characters who kept in step nicely with one another.
Love often hurts and sends us on journeys we never expected – nor wanted. But if you are open to its path many times you end up discovering a part of yourself you didn’t know was there. SOLO MIO is that journey.
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