Director's note: «I wanted to tell a social emergency through a comedy». The social emergency is that of the new poverty of separated fathers. «A problem that we wanted to represent without any presumption» adds the director, also on behalf of the other screenwriters. Carlo Verdone conducts, divide and rule, alla Romana. First he returns to the rank of a strange trio, then he dominates the scene enjoying the company of Micaela Ramazzotti.
Three estranged fathers end up sharing an apartment. The vinyl dealer and the gossip talker accept the proposal of the real estate agent who rounds up by being a gigolo (for spry old ladies). Maintain, in order: ex wives and children, the old standard of living, a psychological balance is an impossible mission. Disorder reigns. The situation worsens but is often ridiculous, sometimes pathetic.
The story feeds more confusion. The sentimental situation suffocates the comic one and therefore a few thin laughs, snatched from some joke. Marco Giallini gigioneggia easy, Piefrancesco Favino is hardly measured. The young Verdone would have gone out of his way and who knows, he would have had less scruples, so much so as to generously prepare – at the time of writing – an emergency plan, precisely to contain the social emergency.
"Standing places in paradise" by and with Carlo Verdone. With Pierfrancesco Favino and Marco Giallini. It lasts 1h59'. Distributed by Filmauro. Subsidized with 650 thousand euros by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities.
