Obviously a plot inspired by and written for/by second-generation Italian immigrant comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.
So one could have assumed more sincerity and rooted jokes and culture-clash in this somehow very plain comedy (My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) being a good example of what could have been achieved).
But most importantly, Robert De Niro is not the right actor for the part: the father is supposed to be a first generation immigrant from Italy having lived most of his Chicago and yet De Niro "Junior", a FOURTH!() generation New Yorker, does not even try (probably for the best) the Italian/Sicilian accent (and please, more has to be done to help the audience agree with the time-lapse than a change in the septuagenarian's haircut/long hair wig.
So one could have assumed more sincerity and rooted jokes and culture-clash in this somehow very plain comedy (My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) being a good example of what could have been achieved).
But most importantly, Robert De Niro is not the right actor for the part: the father is supposed to be a first generation immigrant from Italy having lived most of his Chicago and yet De Niro "Junior", a FOURTH!() generation New Yorker, does not even try (probably for the best) the Italian/Sicilian accent (and please, more has to be done to help the audience agree with the time-lapse than a change in the septuagenarian's haircut/long hair wig.