Fioravante, at his friend Murray’s suggestion, enters into the world’s oldest profession and ends up finding something he didn’t know he was looking for. The seed of this scheme is planted when Murray’s beautiful dermatologist Dr. Parker mentions she’s looking for a man to participate in a ménage à trois with her and her equa...more
Fioravante, at his friend Murray’s suggestion, enters into the world’s oldest profession and ends up finding something he didn’t know he was looking for. The seed of this scheme is planted when Murray’s beautiful dermatologist Dr. Parker mentions she’s looking for a man to participate in a ménage à trois with her and her equally gorgeous friend Selima. Contending with the recent closure of his bookshop, Murray recognizes the financial potential of this proposal and sets about convincing Fioravante to consummate the deal. While Fioravante is at first hesitant at the prospect of being Murray’s “ho,” he also needs the cash and comes to realize that there are worse ways to make a living than making two attention starved women happy. A partnership is born and Fioravante is soon on his way to Dr. Parker’s bedroom for a pre-ménage tryout. less
Verdict
“While the plot is not its strong suit, Fading Gigolo is a witty comedy thanks to Woody Allen. One time watch for the laughs and well-executed sensual scenes.”
Fading gigolo is a short, snappy comedy amusingly told.
Woody Allen has to shut down his store selling old and rare books. His friend of many years with an appropriately stylish name like Fiorovante barely makes ends meet working in a flower shop. The book owner' s dermatologist mentions in a casual conversation that she and her lesbian partner are looking to have a threesome and that gives him the idea of turning Fiorovante into a gigolo. He decides to call their little enterprise Virgil and Bongo. Fiorovante is reluctant but then gets into it seriously and they both make quite a bit of money till he falls in love with an orthodox Jewish widow who Bongo decides will make a good customer.
Woody Allen is his usual bumbly self. John Turturro who also directs the movie plays the reluctant gigolo very, very seriuosly. No swagger, no throw away lines, just a deadly earnestness and sincerity about the job at hand. This makes the whole thing funnier. Sharon Stone and Sophia Vergera as the lesbian couple totally enjoy playing femme fatales in sharp contrast to Vanessa Paradis' innocent Jewish woman.
There are quite a few quiet laughs that keep this comedy light and frothy. A great watch just after dinner to wind down the weekend.
