Big Night **** (1995, Stanley Tucci, Tony Shalhoub, Ian Holm) – Classic Movie Review 1692

Co-writer/co-director/star Stanley Tucci’s flavourful 1995 labour-of-love food movie comedy is a civilised pleasure to watch.

Tucci and Tony Shalhoub star as Secondo and Primo, the Italian Pilaggi brothers, who open a restaurant in 50s New Jersey. But it fares poorly until their successful rival (Ian Holm) offers to call his friend, jazz great Louis Prima, and get him to be their star guest at a make-or-break, binge-out publicity big night.

Even if it’s small scale and low key, this is a witty and ingratiating, well-executed comedy drama, with entertaining characters, diverting situations and all the restaurant, 50s and New Jersey atmosphere closely, lovingly observed.

The tasty cast also includes Minnie Driver, Isabella Rossellini, Allison Janney, Liev Schreiber, Campbell Scott, Caroline Aaron, Marc Anthony and Pasquale Cajano.

Campbell Scott helps with the direction; Joseph Tropiano helps with the screenplay.

Tucci went on to make The Impostors in 1998 with many of the same cast.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1692

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