It could be argued Kiss Me Again was the most anticipated film of the Lavazza Italian Film Festival in 2010, with audiences having waited seven years for the sequel to hit The Last Kiss (l’ultimo bacio). In the meantime Gabriele Muccino’s gone to Hollywood and back, buddying up with Will Smith and getting a lot of flak for it. But returning to his homeland, and in particular returning to the characters many came to know and love in The Last Kiss, was inevitable.

To remain true to time (and ageing faces), Muccino places the timeframe at 10 years past the events of the first film. Kiss Me Again still focuses on Carlo (Stefano Accorsi) and his relationship with Giulia (Vittoria Puccini), only now daughter Sveva (Sara Girolami) is what’s keeping them together in any form. As in The Last Kiss, Carlo’s many personal issues are somewhat reflected through his friends; Alberto (Marco Cocci) still can’t find himself settling down, Marco (Pierfrancesco Favino) can’t shake the feeling wife Veronica (Daniela Piazza) is having an affair, and Paolo’s (Claudio Santamaria) schizophrenia won’t protect him from a secret he can’t tell Adriano (Giorgio Pasotti), who’s been M.I.A. for the past two years. While this remains interesting as a real mixed bag you’re subjected to, it becomes an underlying problem with the story; what has Carlo learnt over the last 10 years? Not a lot obviously… but as Muccino takes us through their intricate web you learn he’s not the only one. Marco endures his fair share of emasculation (more often than not projected as comical), intended as a stab at the general traditionalism of Italian males; women Giulia, Veronica and Livia (Sabrina Impacciatore) on the other hand are all involved in relationships they believe are worth it on the surface but know deep down they can’t work. Fragile but insistent. Muccino’s always one to play with themes of discontent, and he creates interesting flawed characters in Kiss Me Again – but struggles to find where it all leads.

Giovanna Mezzogiorno’s decision not to return for the sequel (interestingly enough there were scripting disagreements over character development) will in one way or another affect how you see Kiss Me Again. While Vittoria Puccini does well as Giulia and it’s unfair to compare the two, Mezzogiorno’s strong presence morphs into a portrayal of a weaker Giulia in Kiss Me Again. But while many would see Mezzogiorno as a loss, it doesn’t count for all of the film’s issues. Notably the extensive 2.5 hours-running time… Muccino loves telling a story and does it well with good cinematography and character interest, but here he fails to cut out unnecessary bulk in the body of the film – as it drags you wonder why Accorsi looks so utterly bewildered in some scenes. You can’t deny Muccino uses plenty of drama – stormy days, English power ballads and Italian emotion, but how he throws it in between the comedy – or perhaps the other way round, comes off as slightly contrived. Kiss Me Again does deserve its merits – Santamaria is particularly powerful as Paolo, and the harsh realities of life aren’t buried underneath any surface. Growing up doesn’t stop when you’re a grown up.

Verdict:

The lives of these people are worth the second trip; Kiss Me Again doesn’t exceed all expectations – but when has a Muccino film been without surprise?

Kiss Me Again screened as part of the Lavazza Italian Film Festival 2010 across Australia.

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