Actor-director Di Gregorio's follow-up to
Mid-August Lunch dishes up more of the same, right down to casting the same nonagenarian actress as his cloyingly demanding mother, and Di Gregorio's hangdog character is essentially the same too, albeit being given a family this time, but otherwise still as put-upon by others in undesired early retirement and hitting the aperitifs in a vain attempt to find temporary respite from his malaise. What difference in plot there is from the last time concerns his self-appointed best friend attempting to needle him into an affair, something Gianni then proceeds to fail miserably at realising.
The comedy of
The Salt of Life is as gentle as its predecessor's, the protagonist just a bit more down in the dumps with impending old age. The supporting cast of unattainable nubile totty are just projections, and this is where the film falters a tad, but Di Gregorio remains hard to dislike with his lugubrious fretting. He may have to strike out of the mould next time round, though.
6/10
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