I'm always a bit lukewarm on these movies where a character makes a bunch of bad choices that lead him on a series of misadventures. It doesn't help when the character is a bit unpleasant like Tanino, as he comes off a bit sleazy and unlikable. I wasn't a fan of the performance from Corrado Fortuna, and there are definitely moments when I just don't care what happens to him. However, I will admit that for a large portion of the film he's not being an actively mean-spirited guy. He tends to act like he doesn't comprehend what's going on around him, and when he's surrounded by the American family that he barely understands it was the best part of the film. The entire movie kind of goes dramatically downhill after that sequence, and ends on a truly lackluster note with his dream director. I admit that there were a handful of moments that made me chuckle, but most of the way through My Name is Tanino didn't do much that I found entertaining.

May contain spoilers:

This movie is an incredible watch. I recommend it to anyone who likes foreign films at all. I don't how the subtitles are because I watched it in Italian, but there are enough English-speaking characters that add to the hilarious plot development of the film. It is well done and contains a mix of both languages that accurately portrays both the difficulties of Americans in Italy and Italians in America. Of course, this leads to many, many comic situations and the result is quite humourous.

The only downside is the lack of an ending. That is to say, there is no tying up of loose ends or anything like that at the end, but that doesn't detract from the movie itself much at all. I am too used to American cinema in which everything wraps up nicely upon completion. The ending that this movie has is much more realistic than some fantasy-fiction that Hollywood could toss together ... yet at the same time it is far-fetched and and fantastic as well.

Another slight detractor are the random flashback scenes that Tanino has during his fainting spells. Most of them remain unresolved and I have no idea what they were all about ... they didn't make a whole lot of sense. But at the same time, the weren't awful and the movie seemed to flow uninterrupted afterwards. I suppose they were a good means of transition at certain points.

If you have any slight interest in modern foreign films, this is a great choice. It is bi-lingual enough to catch the drift of the film without subtitles but I'm sure if there is a DVD version it will have subtitles for those who can't grasp the Italian. It is enjoyable and a genuine good time, so enjoy it with your friends.

A young, clue-free Italian finds and eludes trouble on numerous occasions as he journeys to and through America in director Paolo Virzi's 2001 comedy My Name Is Tanino. Naïve optimist Tanino (Corrado Fortuna) gets romantically involved with an American tourist named Sally (Rachel McAdams),who happens to visit his hometown one fateful summer. After Sally's vacation ends, Tanino decides to follow her to the U.S. -- not realizing that Sally's interest in him ended when her vacation ended. Upon arriving in America... A fantastic journey through an hilarious gallery of portraits, a weird and funny movie, an amazing mix of comedy, coming of age, on the road... A must to see! Wonderful Rachel Mc Adams (starring in Mean Girls) in the ironic role of a sweet melancholic and sexy wasp Icon!