entertaining if not very surprising

Rating: Null/10 (31 March 2019)

In the early 1960s, voracious, uncouth Italian-American bouncer and family man Tony Vallelonga is employed at the Copacabana nightclub in the Bronx. In need of employment while the club is under renovation, he reluctantly takes a job to work for Dr. Don Shirley, a cultured, genteel black man and musician in need of a driver while he embarks on a concert tour through the Midwest and Deep South. Of course the obvious question is: can this unmistakable odd couple co-exist long enough to get the job done? Inspired by a true story this delivers many expected and familiar themes like racism, dignity, and friendship, and while the comparisons with Driving Miss Daisy are simply unavoidable, it features some snazzy musical numbers, a good central theme, and is highlighted by the performances of Mortensen and Ali who play so well off one another. ***