LOOKIN’ ITALIAN: Life Before Joey

LOOKIN’ ITALIAN (Blu-ray)

1994 / 101 min

Severin Films

Review by Stinky the Destroyer😼

The title makes it sound like a comedy, while the cover art & synopsis suggest more of a crime thriller. While 1994's Lookin’ Italian contains elements of both, it doesn’t fall neatly under either category. And chances are the film would’ve dwelled in obscurity if not for the presence of Matt LeBlanc in his first major role. So for some, the curiosity factor might be pretty high.

Released just before Friends made him a household name, this low budget indie drama is mostly about mid-level gangster Vinnie Pallazzo (Jay Acovone). Following a job that goes fatally wrong, he quits the mob and relocates to Los Angeles for the comparatively quite life of working at a bookstore. He’s also tasked with trying to keep his irresponsible, womanizing nephew, Anthony (LeBlanc), out of trouble and away from the old “family” business.

There isn’t actually a hell of a lot of plot until the final act. Until then, the film’s rambling, episodic narrative mostly consists of Anthony and his buddies partying while an exasperated Vinnie repeatedly scolds him for his behavior (though he does sometimes participate). Then when a couple of Anthony’s friends are killed in a drive-by shooting, the tone suddenly turns serious as he sets out to get even, despite Vinnie’s efforts to intervene.

"I guess I don't gotta ask how you're doin'!"

Lookin’ Italian is written and directed by Guy Magar, who’s mostly known for B-movie horror and should be commended for stepping out of his comfort zone. Considering the miniscule budget, the film is pretty well assembled from a technical standpoint. However, inconsistent pace and tone tend to hamper the narrative's overall effectiveness. The first hour is almost maddeningly meandering at times, perhaps in an attempt to establish a vibe similar to Mean Streets. But Magar is no Scorsese, nor are his characters as richly developed. However, the story culminates an exciting (and violent) final act that in-some-ways does more to establish the strong bond between these two characters than the rest of the film. 

Engaging performances help, of course. Acovone is one of those guys you’ve seen in lots of other stuff without ever knowing his name, and he makes the most of a rare leading role. As for LeBlanc...in light of Friends becoming a cultural milestone, I personally found it difficult separating Anthony Manetti from Joey Tribbiani, since his approach to both is almost identical. While he’s certainly likable here, I half expected him to blurt out “How you doin’?” on numerous occasions. 

Still, seeing pre-fame Matt LeBlanc is kind of interesting, and look quick for a very young, still unknown Denise Richards in a small role. While no lost classic or forgotten gem, the film itself ain’t half bad. For its Blu-ray debut, Severin Films has thrown in quite a few archival bonus features, including promotional interviews and a film festival Q&A session (where the movie apparently premiered).

EXTRA KIBBLES

INTERVIEWS - Individual archival interviews with writer/director Guy Magar, actors Matt LeBlanc, Jay Acovone, Stephanie Richards, Lou Rawls and John MaMotta.

PALM SPRINGS FILM FESTIVAL Q&A -  with writer/director Guy Magar, actors Matt LeBlanc, Jay Acovone, Stephanie Richards and Ralph Manza.

INSIDE EDITION FIRST LOOK

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FEATURETTE

GAG REEL

TRAILER