In the first few minutes of Tony Vitale's first feature we see Pino, an obnoxious, macho, Italian-American guy (a "Guido") get disgusted at the sight of three gay men kissing "hello" on the street. In the next scene he greets some older men from his `hood in the Bronx with pecks on their cheeks. Vitale likes to point out contradictory behavior in his characters, and this is one of the things that makes Kiss Me, Guido so much fun!

The story revolves around a pair of unwilling but desperate roommates, Warren (Anthony Barrile) and Frankie (Nick Scotti). Warren -- a gay, non-gym-toned, regular guy who wears his baseball cap backwards and enjoys dipping his Chips Ahoys into glasses of milk -- is five months behind on his rent. Frankie -- Pino's gorgeous, well-built, kind-hearted younger brother who knows DeNiro is the better actor yet prefers Stallone -- is escaping from the Bronx after busting in on his giflfriend doing his brother.

Things do not look good.

Warren is as uncomfortable with Frankie's "breeder" ways as Frankie is with Warren being a "fag." What brings them into harmony is The Theater. Fire in the Hole (believe it) is a new play being directed by Warren's ex, with Warren cast as the lead and Frankie cast in a small supporting role. Through the rehearsal process (as Warren teaches Frankie how to act) trust and respect are cultivated, as well as the beginning of a beautiful friendship. (Yes, the famous Bogart line from Casablanca is quoted.) Indeed, it is this central relationship, the heartwarming friendship between these two men, that holds us throughout the film.

Despite a few flat scenes -- where Vitale fails to mine the best comic possibilites or uses very distracting handheld footage -- Kiss Me, Guido is a delectable piece of movie candy. With charming and farcical supporting characters and subplots to boot, Kiss Me, Guido reminds us to take our lives a bit less seriously as it shows that gay and straight men can, um...come together.

Michael Jortner

Source : Obtained from PlanetOut.com