“Excuse me for living” is the movie that (finally) gives Paola Cortellesi the chance to shine like the superstar that she is.
La Cortellesi is always adorable, but In Scusate Se Esisto, she just explodes with cuteness, and proves herself a top comic actor. Her Co-star, Raoul Bova, is equally engaging, and when I say “engaging”, I mean HOT (as well as talented and funny).
As Serena the brilliant architect, Paola plays a young woman who graduates with the highest of honors and moves to London, proving herself a success over and over. But when she’s alone in her apartment on rainy London nights she’s homesick, so she decides to move back to Italy to try to make it there.
The social commentary here can only be verified or disputed by Italian women, but as an outsider, the movie seems a little exaggerated for comic effect, but basically authentic, as Serena Bruno struggles to find a job in her male dominated field of employment. When her resume is confused for a man’s, she goes with it, pretending to be “Bruno Serena’s” assistant to get the job.
Helping her pull it off (hilariously), her new BFF Francesco (Bova) goes shirtless, pantless, and everything in between to stay so, so, so handsome but unfortunately (for Serena), gay. While he’s helping her, she’s his champion in the struggle to come out to his son.
Scusate Se Esisto is smart, lively, warm, and just plain funny. We want MORE movies just like this one. And it would be fine with me if Paola Cortellesi and Raoul Bova were in them all.
I Love Italian Everything 