To Eat, or Not to Eat

This is a little treasure trove of a film. Superb actress, Anne Bancroft (aka Anna Maria Louise Italiano), only wrote one screenplay and only directed one movie -and this was it. She worked through her husband's production company (Brookfilms), and put together a precious commodity for the ages. It is a shame she never directed again. She had a terrific comic ear for dialogue, cast well, and must have done the project as a labor of love; perhaps too much so.. Her work was reminiscent of the writing and directing of Elaine May. But possibly the stress of being the matriarch and Madre for a giggling gaggle of comedic actors, and the go-to gal for everyone else did not turn out to be much "fun".

She seemed to have a very slim budget to work with. She cast herself in the film, and did a wonderful acting job as the hysterically domineering sister, Anoinette. She ended up with a crew of mostly television veterans, and the result was the finished film looked like it was created "on the cheap". The rather pedestrian cinematography was done by TV veteran Brianne Murphy. The unremarkable musical score was composed by Joe Penzetti, a "B" film, and TV veteran. The strength of this film was in the writing and the acting--and of course the directing.

Dom DeLuise played Dominick DiNapoli, a 40ish overweight bachelor, still living at home, a gourmet cook, and a champion calorie consumer. This was one of Dom's best roles, although admittedly it was not much of a stretch for him. His sensitive nature and his ability to weep on cue gave the character depth. Ron Carey played his brother, Frankie, and he gave it just the right blend of bathos, chaos, and burlesque. Candice Azzara played the lovely Lydia, Dom's love interest. Her Lydia was shy, lonely, struggling to be independent, very religious, creative, fussy, oddly realistic, idealistic, naïve -and when asked if she still was a virgin, she replied, "Nearly." She reminded me some of Carol Kane with her nuanced and well thought out performance.

There are those folks who might feel that this movie is lightweight, not on a par with Carl Reiner's manic WHERE'S PAPA? (1970), or Mel Brooks side-splitting THE PRODUCERS (1968), nor did it have the sweet sarcasm of A THOUSAND CLOWNS (1965). So as a New York based comedy it was overshadowed by the bigger box office and critical hits. Yet this gentle and touching film represents the genuine warmth and sentiment that was missing from the darker and more profane comedies. For Dom DeLuise fans, it is a must-see. For the rest of us it is a great time at the Bijou.

Great comedy

I haven't watched this film in years and it is one of the best comedies I have ever watched in my life, especially but not limited to people of Italian heritage.

Funny Classic

For anybody that has ever had a weight problem, you will identify with this movie, just so funny.