Four to Dinner
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Four to Dinner
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that parallel lives Italian romance Four to Dinner has mature themes involving love and relationships as well as a lot of language. The story revolves around the concept of whether soulmates exist, and the message seems to be that love can be found in more than one place but that it does take work and compromise. Couples kiss and are seen heading to or waking up in bed together (no nudity; one man in underwear). There's discussion of one-night stands and lots of flirtation. A woman wants to have sex in a public restroom because she's trying to conceive. A man has an affair in a London hotel room. Language in the English subtitles includes "f--k," "s--t," "bulls--t," "damn," "d--k," "d--khead," "ass," "moron," "crap," "screw," "balls," "heck," "idiot," "pecker," "jerk," "pissed," "sucks," "God." Adults drink wine, beer, and liquor in social settings.
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What's the Story?
When pressed about whether he believes in soulmates, Luca (Flavio Furno) and his wife Sara (Marta Gastini) tell the story of four single friends they set up in FOUR TO DINNER (QUATRRO META). Chiara (Ilenia Pastorelli), Dario (Giuseppe Maggio), Giulia (Matilde Gioli), and Matteo (Matteo Martari) meet and pair off during the dinner. We follow their developing love stories. Then the narrative switches, and different pairs have coupled off. In the end, we find out who really stayed with whom, underscoring Luca's idea that love is more about serendipity than soulmates.
Is It Any Good?
An interesting idea explored in a range of movies -- how a person's life could've been different if some factor was changed -- is expanded to involve couples. In Four to Dinner, the idea is explored through the lens of whether soulmates exist. The film cleverly sets up the main characters through a pair of introductions -- first, two friends tell another couple about the scenario, and then, the four single adults meet for the first time at the same friends' Roman rooftop terrace.
From there, the film weaves back and forth in segments of different pairings between the two couples. Some of the back-and-forth gets a little confusing at first because some time changes are titled while others aren't, but eventually the divergent paths result in four different but interrelated stories. The film could've been more tightly edited: at an hour and 44 minutes, the length drags a bit. But the stories, actors, and setting all have their appeal, and the fact that all four possible pairs work out makes them all satisfying (to varying degrees).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the idea of soulmates presented in Four to Dinner. Does the film suggest they do or don't exist? What's your opinion or experience?
Have you ever wondered how your life would have changed if one or two factors had been different for you? What other films or series have you watched with this premise?
An introductory scene where the characters push four colored tables together is filmed from above. What's the effect?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 5, 2022
- Cast: Matilde Gioli, Giuseppe Maggio, Matteo Martari
- Director: Alessio Maria Federici
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Friendship
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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