Slickly funny and polished romantic-comedy.
There is something very sentimental in the comedy, and despite the notional daring of the subject matter, it is a very conservative and complacent film.
It has the feel of light opera, drizzled with Europop instead of arias, and oddly none the worse for it.
Ozpetek’s film is so well made, so well-meaning and so warm and witty that it easily surmounts the familiar material.
A disaster area, pure and simple.
Writer/director Ferzan Ozpetek could have trimmed some of the sub-plots, but it’s broadly amusing (especially when our hero’s camp pals pitch up) and the performances are as warm as the southern setting.
With emotions swirling for so long, Loose Cannons can seem a little like a Brazilian soap opera that’s never going to end.
Ospeteck has some valid things to say here about the hypocrisy of an older generation that regards homosexuality as anti-family while turning a blind eye to heterosexual infidelity. Oddly, though, he chooses to confront his characters' homophobia by filling his film with the kind of swishy, non-threatening gay stereotypes that mainstream audiences have deemed acceptable.
Profile: Nicole Grimaudo of Loose Cannons
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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