Blog Entry 10


Blog Entry 10

By F. Mason Hertrich
The relationship between the two brothers is not quite complicated. Considering they do both care about the food. The main difference between the two is more what they want to do with the food. Stanley Tucci’s character is slightly more motivated by money. Not to the point that he is greedy, but more that he wants to survive. Which is obviously difficult, especially with his brother being a artist in a way with the food, because he doesn’t care about money. This may also come from the brother being verily socially awkward, and somewhat of a recluse in a way because he doesn’t really do anything else, except cook. As Tucci says to him towards the end of the film he keeps his head buried in pots. There is also the difference they both have where the brother Tucci’s character tells the car salesman that he will never go back to Italy. Whereas the other brother wants to go back when their uncle gives them a chance. This is another example of the conflict they have between them. Tucci doesn’t want to go back to Italy because he can’t make money there, as opposed to Shalhoub he clearly wants to go back because he feels that people have a better appreciation of food there. Another thing that they also are faced with is the cultural difference being Italians in another country. The scene in the beginning with the couple who have a idea about the food, which the article called stereotypical. Referring to the woman being surprised they don’t serve spaghetti with meatballs. Which is admittedly a little stereotypical, although most Italian restaurants today serve that. However that is because they have been Americanized. Which is pretty much what Tucci’s character wants them to be, much to the disagreement of his brother. This is the main problem they have, because they could potentially be more successful if they did Americanize their restaurant, but Shalhoub’s character won’t do that because he values the food so much. 

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