A young, clue-free Italian finds and eludes trouble on numerous occasions as he journeys to and through America in director Paolo Virzi's 2001 comedy My Name Is Tanino. Naïve optimist Tanino (Corrado Fortuna) gets romantically involved with an American tourist named Sally (Rachel McAdams), who happens to visit his hometown one fateful summer. After Sally's vacation ends, Tanino decides to follow her to the U.S. -- not realizing that Sally's interest in him ended when her vacation ended. Upon arriving in America... A fantastic journey through an hilarious gallery of portraits, a weird and funny movie, an amazing mix of comedy, coming of age, on the road... A must to see! Wonderful Rachel Mc Adams (starring in Mean Girls) in the ironic role of a sweet melancholic and sexy wasp Icon!
9 Reviews
A misadventures movie that is only mediocre
blott2319-17 November 2021
I'm always a bit lukewarm on these movies where a character makes a bunch of bad choices that lead him on a series of misadventures. It doesn't help when the character is a bit unpleasant like Tanino, as he comes off a bit sleazy and unlikable. I wasn't a fan of the performance from Corrado Fortuna, and there are definitely moments when I just don't care what happens to him. However, I will admit that for a large portion of the film he's not being an actively mean-spirited guy. He tends to act like he doesn't comprehend what's going on around him, and when he's surrounded by the American family that he barely understands it was the best part of the film. The entire movie kind of goes dramatically downhill after that sequence, and ends on a truly lackluster note with his dream director. I admit that there were a handful of moments that made me chuckle, but most of the way through My Name is Tanino didn't do much that I found entertaining.
Italy and America, young and old,thriller and comic, this film has it all!
miss-jewel5 September 2009
You could say this film is about a young Italian in America constantly running away from difficult situations,or you could say it is about youth and growing up by confronting ideals with reality. But it also shows different lifestyles, (the average well to do American family, the Italian large family, the impoverished artist). The performances are good quality, helped by an on the spot casting for example corrado fortuna's (he plays the main character) expressions are quite hilarious or even just his out of place presence create a comic outcome. Of course it is even funnier if you are or have been in contact with Italian culture (and i mean not just from films and TV!), especially from the south, otherwise Castelluzzo,the town from where the main character comes from, might remind you of any little village where everyone knows everyone and everything about everyone. There isn't specifically a plot but you could describe it as the comic adventures of a young Italian in America but that might make it sound like a kids book.
Alltoghether it is a memorable simple little film that you will probably enjoy.
Alltoghether it is a memorable simple little film that you will probably enjoy.
Amazing Tanino, a silly and romantic hero in the Art of the Escape!
canulendmeafewbux19 December 2004
A young, clue-free Italian finds and eludes trouble on numerous occasions as he journeys to and through America in director Paolo Virzi's 2001 comedy My Name Is Tanino. Naïve optimist Tanino (Corrado Fortuna) gets romantically involved with an American tourist named Sally (Rachel McAdams), who happens to visit his hometown one fateful summer. After Sally's vacation ends, Tanino decides to follow her to the U.S. -- not realizing that Sally's interest in him ended when her vacation ended. Upon arriving in America... A fantastic journey through an hilarious gallery of American portraits, a eird and funny movie, an amazing mix of comedy, coming of age, on the road... A must to see! Wonderful Rachel Mc Adams (starring in Mean Girls) in the ironic role of a sweet melancolic and sexy wasp Icon!
The best foreign film ever!!!!
xavriax17 September 2003
I am known for hating foreign films, never wanting to give them a chance. But when I visited Italy this summer with my mother and sister, I figured I had to watch a movie there just to say I did. And I am so happy I did! It was the best movie ever! Even though I don't speak Italian, I do speak Spanish so I understood the whole movie pretty much (there were no subtitles). I recommend this movie to EVERYONE!!!!
Fantastic foreign film - a must see.
saffell27 November 2003
Warning: Spoilers
May contain spoilers:
This movie is an incredible watch. I recommend it to anyone who likes foreign films at all. I don't how the subtitles are because I watched it in Italian, but there are enough English-speaking characters that add to the hilarious plot development of the film. It is well done and contains a mix of both languages that accurately portrays both the difficulties of Americans in Italy and Italians in America. Of course, this leads to many, many comic situations and the result is quite humourous.
The only downside is the lack of an ending. That is to say, there is no tying up of loose ends or anything like that at the end, but that doesn't detract from the movie itself much at all. I am too used to American cinema in which everything wraps up nicely upon completion. The ending that this movie has is much more realistic than some fantasy-fiction that Hollywood could toss together ... yet at the same time it is far-fetched and and fantastic as well.
Another slight detractor are the random flashback scenes that Tanino has during his fainting spells. Most of them remain unresolved and I have no idea what they were all about ... they didn't make a whole lot of sense. But at the same time, the weren't awful and the movie seemed to flow uninterrupted afterwards. I suppose they were a good means of transition at certain points.
If you have any slight interest in modern foreign films, this is a great choice. It is bi-lingual enough to catch the drift of the film without subtitles but I'm sure if there is a DVD version it will have subtitles for those who can't grasp the Italian. It is enjoyable and a genuine good time, so enjoy it with your friends.
This movie is an incredible watch. I recommend it to anyone who likes foreign films at all. I don't how the subtitles are because I watched it in Italian, but there are enough English-speaking characters that add to the hilarious plot development of the film. It is well done and contains a mix of both languages that accurately portrays both the difficulties of Americans in Italy and Italians in America. Of course, this leads to many, many comic situations and the result is quite humourous.
The only downside is the lack of an ending. That is to say, there is no tying up of loose ends or anything like that at the end, but that doesn't detract from the movie itself much at all. I am too used to American cinema in which everything wraps up nicely upon completion. The ending that this movie has is much more realistic than some fantasy-fiction that Hollywood could toss together ... yet at the same time it is far-fetched and and fantastic as well.
Another slight detractor are the random flashback scenes that Tanino has during his fainting spells. Most of them remain unresolved and I have no idea what they were all about ... they didn't make a whole lot of sense. But at the same time, the weren't awful and the movie seemed to flow uninterrupted afterwards. I suppose they were a good means of transition at certain points.
If you have any slight interest in modern foreign films, this is a great choice. It is bi-lingual enough to catch the drift of the film without subtitles but I'm sure if there is a DVD version it will have subtitles for those who can't grasp the Italian. It is enjoyable and a genuine good time, so enjoy it with your friends.
Best Comedy That I've Seen This Year!!!
Rickyyy30 May 2003
Funny and a must for all Americans loving Italy
emildandy24 July 2007
At a first see, My name is Tanino is a funny, well-directed and well-acted comedy (things that are not at all a given in the recent, mediocre Italian cinematography). But it's also a (extremely light) description of the not always easy relationship between Europe (and, in particular, Italy) and US; I mean the ambivalent view of admiration and suspicion toward each other. And if, to an American viewer, the depiction of the typical WASP family and of the typical italo-American family may be a bit stereotyped, the character of Tanino is quite different from Italians you see in movie and TV-show from the States (like the infamous Paolo from Friends...). My name is Tanino could also be a drive to the foreigner to discover other Virzì's movies, like Ovosodo... I don't know if it was ever subtitled, though.
Watchable, naive, to the point
muratmihcioglu27 September 2023
There are two power points with this film:
Rachel McAdams debuts as the ultimate eye magnet, with some sweet acting.
Tanino is so very Sicilian in contrast to the WASP American family that the premise is very much alive in every single scene. He being himself suffices to underline the plot time and again.
Other than these two, well, the story is highly modest and appeals mostly to people who are into Italian culture. There's nothing to whip your imagination or elevate you in ways you don't expect. Professionally made with a very economical approach both to the story and the production, that's an alright film.
Rachel McAdams debuts as the ultimate eye magnet, with some sweet acting.
Tanino is so very Sicilian in contrast to the WASP American family that the premise is very much alive in every single scene. He being himself suffices to underline the plot time and again.
Other than these two, well, the story is highly modest and appeals mostly to people who are into Italian culture. There's nothing to whip your imagination or elevate you in ways you don't expect. Professionally made with a very economical approach both to the story and the production, that's an alright film.
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