Natale a Rio

Plot

Fabio Speranza (Fabio de Luigi) has always been in love with his colleague Linda Vita (Michelle Hunziker) but she has never seen in four years despite attempts to Fabio. The latter contact but due to a mistake she believes is her boyfriend (Paolo Conticini), thus creating a series of misunderstandings. Paolo Berni (Christian De Sica) and Mario Patani (Massimo Ghini), are two divorced, and they have organized a luxurious vacation in Rio de Janeiro for the Christmas holidays. They ignore, however, that their sons Piero (Ludovico Fremont) and Marco (Emanuele Propizio) have booked a trip for the same low-cost destination. For a problem of homonymy between fathers and sons, the two holidays are exchanged, however, so while their sons enjoy in luxurious villas, fathers end up into a comic wandering. Paolo and Mario understand that there was a mistake and try by every means to regain possession of their holiday.

Cast

The saga of cinepanettoni (the Italian comedies of Christmas)

From 1983 until 2011 in Italy were released every year around Christmas time a series of comedies, known as cinepanettoni ("comedy film released at Christmas time"). These films are focused on holidays taken by stereotypical middle-class Italians: bungling, enriched and presumptuous, who travel to countries regarded as famous and stylish. The settings include India (Christmas in India – Natale in India, 2003), Egypt (Christmas in Egypt – Natale sul Nilo, 2002), America (Christmas in New York – 2006, or Christmas in Miami – 2005), Cortina d'Ampezzo (Christmas holidays in Cortina – Vacanze di Natale a Cortina, 2011) or the Netherlands (Merry Christmas, 2001). Many of the plots are unrelated to the Christmas season, except for movies set in Italy. The protagonists (almost always played by Massimo Boldi and Christian De Sica), joined by other comic couples (Sabrina Ferilli, Danny DeVito, Ricky Memphis, Biagio Izzo, Alberto Sordi, Claudio Bisio, Alessandro Gassman, Michelle Hunziker, Luke Perry, Ezio Greggio), find themselves struggling on their holidays with various messes that develop while they are abroad. Their children often prove to be the only ones capable of resolving the complicated situations created by their parents, who invariably get involved in intrigues with underworld stories of betrayal and love.
Italian critics have often considered these films of little ethical or educational value, as they contain large amounts of scurrilous and vulgar phrases, and the characters provide a bad example to young viewers. It often happened that De Sica and Boldi, mature and elderly people, were considered too dominant in the screenplay, preventing young people performing to their full potential. Critics have also said that this line of films, including the authors, actors and directors, represents and emphasizes the era and the power of Silvio Berlusconi.