“Family is not one little thing – it’s everything” – sometimes the wisest words come from the most unexpected sources, as we can see by his statement, which is found nestled at the heart of About My Father, the irreverent and heartwarming comedy by Sebastian Maniscalco, who wrote the film based on his experiences with his father, a working-class immigrant from Italy whose relationship with his son, while objectively loving, was not immune to contention from time to time, which makes for a strong entry-point into exploring the comedian’s life and how his traditions factor into his everyday life, both personally and professionally. Directed by Laura Terruso, who has directed a few little-seen but still very charming films (and produced by Paul and Chris Weitz, who have been known to launch quite a few careers, on both sides of the camera), the film is a thoroughly charming comedy that is far better than it seems on the surface, becoming one of the most surprising films of the year. It is not at all perfect, and it is clear that this is the work of someone who has not quite developed their voice on film quite yet (which is the case for both the director and Maniscalco, both of whom are not all that experienced in these roles, but certainly show enough promise to keep us engaged and interested in their future careers), but we can easily overlook these aspects in favour of the film’s more consistently charming tone, which is executed so perfectly and with an abundance of wit, nuance and genuine humanity, which is quite unexpected. Far from flawless, but eager enough to show its quality, About My Father is a terrific film, and a truly good dose of necessary escapism, which is becoming increasingly rare with the rise of high-concept comedies, making it refreshing to find something so wonderfully simple and genuine in its perspective.

Usually, a comedian has to wait until they have established quite a considerable base of recognition before they can have a film built around their persona. In the case of Maniscalco, this wasn’t necessarily the case. He is not obscure by any means, nor is he someone who appeared out of nowhere – however, the marketing material that branded him as “America’s hottest comic” are certainly resorting to some level of hyperbole, even if only to a small degree. As is often the case with many filmmakers, sometimes the only way to have stories like yours told on screen is to make it yourself, even if you have marginal experience with the medium. While it may have been tempting for Maniscalco to write the screenplay and enlist bigger names to star in the main role, you can’t begrudge his decision to take the gamble and breakthrough with broader audiences, many of whom may not have been entirely aware of his work, since he isn’t nearly as well-known as some of the other comedians who have global appeal. This ultimately does help and gives About My Father a very distinct tone, since it is even closer to the lead’s heart, since every decision made in terms of the story being told comes from his own experiences, or rather a fictionalized version of his life. It isn’t autobiographical in the traditional sense, but it does have its moments of authenticity, these small but integral segments being pulled from Maniscalco’s memory, which he re-enacts in many charming and hilarious situations that draw from his past. It makes for a tremendously entertaining and oddly resonant film, which knows exactly how to hold our attention, even when it feels like it is drawing from many familiar sources that tackle similar material. We don’t watch a film like this for the sake of originality, but rather for the value of the entertainment, which is delivered in an abundance.

About My Father certainlyis a terrific introduction for some, and a great chance for him to put aside the microphone and do something that proves his mettle as an actor, which is not difficult to agree with, based on the effort he puts into the film. He is playing himself, but I will always encourage those who have limited acting experience to start with what they know, rather than taking some bold swings. Maniscalco has been in a couple of films (such as Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece The Irishman), but this is his first leading role, and he certainly delivers what was necessary to introduce himself to broader audiences. However, he knows that he is not the main attraction in this story, but rather the character of his father is the person who most will flock to see, making the casting of the role vital. Luckily, Maniscalco managed to wrangle perhaps the best choice of them all in the form of Robert De Niro, who takes the role and, to my great surprise, gives a performance that reminds us of why he is such a truly great actor. His recent career choices have been less-than-ideal to say the least, mainly easy roles that don’t require much from him, with a few challenging films sporadically appearing (usually when enlisted by directors like Martin Scorsese or David O. Russell, who have managed to put out excellent work from the actor), and About My Father looked to be in the vein of Dirty Grandpa or The War with Grandpa – films that give De Niro a role that plays less on his talents and more on his status as one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. It’s surprising to see him actually doing exceptionally strong work here – the same performance could have been transposed verbatim in a very serious drama and fit in perfectly, which is not at all what we expected from a film with this premise. Obviously, it’s not all that challenging, and any actor of his stature could have easily played this role – but there is something so special about seeing De Niro play a role that honours his own heritage, which is likely why he showed such commitment to the film.

Anyone who has ever experienced having an immigrant parent, or being from an ethnic background known for its deep traditions, will find something familiar embedded right at the heart of this film, which may alienate others who aren’t quite as understanding of the role culture plays in one’s family dynamic (although it isn’t a difficult concept, and the film is very smart when it comes to how it examines certain issues, making them very accessible rather than emphasizing how niche they are), which is the primary foundation from which the film is constructed. Maniscalco’s screenplay is very endearing, and it navigates the very narrow territory between showing the cultural quirks associated with the Italian community, and being an endless barrage of stereotypes. It requires a strict balance, and the film understands exactly how to handle its ideas, to the point where it never feels like it is simply devolving into 90 minutes of cheap jokes at the expense of the Italia community, but rather a vibrant celebration of their eccentricities, which is very much what Maniscalco has always strived to achieve with his work, which are hilarious but loving jokes about his upbringing and experiences growing up within a particular culture. The emotions added onto the film run the risk of being excessive and unnecessarily convoluted, but the film handles them perfectly, never going too far to the point where it gets excessive, but also not holding back when it is appropriate. This on its own qualifies About My Father to be a far more successful film in practice than we expected it to be in theory, and while it can sometimes be quite predictable, it never feels as if it is begging for a reaction, instead allowing everything to develop quite naturally, which is all the more reason to appreciate this film.

For those who are aware of Maniscalco’s act and style of comedy, About My Father is just an extension of what the comedian has been doing for years, which has always been about expressing his experiences growing up in an eccentric Italian family – so naturally, for some it’ll be absolutely delightful, and for others a chore to get through, since his style of humour is not universally appealing, and he doesn’t manage to avoid some of the broad humour, which was unsurprisingly used to market the film, making it seem far more broadly hilarious than it was in reality. Expectations are sometimes dangerous with certain films, since they can sometimes mislead us into anticipating something entirely different from what we anticipated. While this is usually the case for a film that appears promising in theory but is proven to be quite poor in practice, the inverse is entirely possible, which is exactly what we find happening in About My Father, which is a far more compelling and fascinating film than it seems to be at first. It is still undeniably very funny, but the most meaningful humour comes in the quieter moments, where Maniscalco makes fascinating observations, peppered in between hilarious and irreverent humour that fills more than fitting for this film, which is representative of his past, so appropriately is a work very close to his heart. Ultimately, About My Father is a good film – it may not offer anything we haven’t seen countless times before, but it remains heartwarming and very meaningful, which is enough to propel it to the heights needed to be entertaining and as charming as necessary. A great way to introduce Maniscalco to wider audiences, and a chance for De Niro to do some very good work once again, the film is a delight, and one of the more surprising comedies of the year so far.