Review of Little Italy

Nikki (Emma Roberts) is an aspiring chef in London. She has been learning from one of the best British chefs (Jane Seymour), who has just told her underling a secret. On the verge of opening a new restaurant, Nikki is one of two candidates the top cook will choose for her new venture as chief of the food production. But, Nikki will have to go back to her home in Canada and get some paperwork and plan the new menu. Reluctantly, Nikki does so. Back home in Toronto's Little Italy, you see, her pizzaria owning father has been feuding with a fellow pizza maker who once was his partner. The two men have shops side by side and have competed against each other for over five years, after winning a top pizza prize when they were together. No one knows why the feud happened. Not only this, Nikki's childhood best friend and crush Leo (Hayden Christensen) is the son of the rival Italian pasta family. Yet, somehow these two young people ran away from love, each in the opposite direction. As it happens, they meet again at once. One of their first acts is to stage a soccer competition in the rain, for Nikki always won out in the end at earlier times. Meanwhile, Nikki's grandma (Andrea Martin) and Leo's grandpa (Danny Aiello) have also secretly been seeing each other, as widows and widowers sometimes do. They, too, are aware their offspring will not be happy with a union. So, will romance blossom for two couples or will Nikki return to London as a hot chef? This beautifully photographed film is a joy visually. Toronto's Little Italy is a charming venue and the sites and sounds very pleasing. Likewise, although Roberts and Christensen are neither one Italian and have had to dye their hair dark, they make a charming couple. Martin and Aiello bring great fun and drama to their portrayals and the rest of the cast, including Alyssa Milano, are good, too. The script, too, has some creative elements, some a bit too much so, for most of the r-rated talk and situations do not enhance the tale, slightly damaging the enjoyment. Nevertheless, the energetic direction and the above good qualities listed, make for a recommendation to view it and fast forward over the offending parts.