Today’s quick review: American Cousins. After a deal with the Ukrainian mob goes wrong, American mafiosos Settimo (Dan Hedaya) and Gino (Danny Nucci) head to Glasgow, Scotland, to stay with their cousin Roberto (Gerald Lepkowski), the owner of a small restaurant. As the cousins get to know each other, Roberto wrestles with his feelings for his friend Alice (Shirely Henderson), while Settimo and Gino help him deal with a group of local thugs.
American Cousins is a crime movie about an ordinary Scottish businessman and his mobster cousins. American Cousins is a soft-spoken comedy that focuses on the rustic charm of Scotland, the gap between Roberto and his American kin, and the budding relationship between him and Alice. The movie also has its share of drama, both at the personal level and in connection to crime. The result is an endearing and surprisingly well-rounded watch.
American Cousins takes a premise that easily could have been a gimmick and evolves it into something heartfelt. Settimo and Gino come off as brash and shady at first, but they are loyal men with some depth to their characters. The same goes for Roberto, a mild-mannered businessman who learns to assert himself. The interactions between the characters and their growth over the course of the movie give American Cousins a solid emotional foundation.
American Cousins builds on this foundation well. The movie uses an assortment of lighter moments, bits of introspection, and personal details to flesh out the characters. The tone is generally light and relaxing, but it dips into heartache and conflict for a few well-chosen stretches of the story. There’s no single idea or line of dialogue that defines the movie, but it’s hard to watch it without growing attached to the characters.
American Cousins is a good pick for anyone in the mood for a thoughtful, character-focused comedy. American Cousins doesn’t aim for the biggest laughs or the most shocking developments. It’s outclassed as a comedy and as a drama by movies that aim higher and focus directly on a single goal. But the movie does an admirable job of making a lot of little moments feel meaningful, making for a modest but satisfying watch with a wide emotional range.
For a small-scale comedy with an even more diffuse plot, try Intermission. For a darker comedy about criminals hiding out in a quiet European town, try In Bruges.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a charming story with good character work and a surprising amount of heart.