Nicky Deuce (2013/Gaiam Vivendi DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: C Extras: D Telefilm: C+
Nicholas (Noah
Munck) has live a sheltered life as a mama's boy until his life suddenly takes
a twist and he is sent to stay with his Italian grandmother Tutti and Uncle
Frankie in Brooklyn for the summer. As he gets used to neighborhood, fast food
life and new friends he learns a family secret; that his Uncle Frank might just
be in the mob. Nicholas re-invents
himself as Nicky Deuce (2013), hit
man for hire, but when real mobsters come calling can he live up to the name?
He is
also a young boy who live in a bubble and only ate tofu. Suddenly, he is culture shocked to learn
about his Italian heritage and how to be cool and dangerous like his TV hero. It makes fun of the New York lifestyle and Italian stereotypes,
as Nicky Deuce learns to be a chip off the old block, he learns how to be the
neighborhood tough guy with an attitude, being bad never had it so good. That is until he bites off more than he can
chew and really getting mixed up with the REAL mobsters in a fixed job. Now it's up to him to save his 'familia'.
This was
a family fun comedy good for all ages (don’t expect Bugsy Malone (reviewed elsewhere on this site) based on the cover
art), the main character starts off as nerd and ends up as possibly a hero by
the end despite doing everything wrong, but somehow still get everything right
to get himself into the mob, in order to make a name for himself. Only afterwards he realizes how much trouble
things could be does he realize he needs his friends to help get him out of
trouble. Michael Imperioli, Rita Moreno
and the late James Gandolfini also star.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is as good as this HD shoot is going to
look, but the lossy Dolby Digital sound is a little weaker than it should be
for a new release and there are no extras.
- Ricky Chiang
