2008-09-05 19:02:04 -

- Little-Indy-film-that-could EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN is opening in theaters in Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware, Connecticut, and Salt Lake City. The film has experienced a groundswell of support from exhibitors wanting to book it in theaters all across the country. And word-of-mouth screenings have been filled with laughter. "So why is there such

a disconnect between the positive experience of audiences and negative reviews from critics?" wonders Michael Hampton of TheStickyTruth.com.

"This is no surprise," says director Jason Todd Ipson. "When MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING opened it was panned as trite and racist in its depiction of Greeks receiving very few good critic reviews until the audience took over." Once that film caught on with audiences, naturally reviews reversed directions.

Hampton asks: But why should we be subjected to inaccurate critic reviews remains a question? Why does there exist such a disparity between what we want and need as an audience and what "critics" tell you that you should be seeing? Is it the "vitamins are good for you" phenomenon where they try to cram films that are "artistic" but have no appeal down our throats yet tell us to lay off the cannoli's and cheesecake?

"Last year's Sundance and Tribeca festival winners were good films for sure. But does the average audience really want to sit through those straight to IFC film channel films yet avoid the joy of EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ITALIAN? Thank god we live in the day of the Internet where you can ignore the critics and instead search for show times. I've got my tickets already...cause I just want to laugh," says Hampton.

Asgaard Entertainment
Todd Slater, 310-246-0942