Massimo Marcovaldo

*"Where did you boys say you were from?" -Massimo, to Luca and Alberto.*

Massimo Marcovaldo is a supporting character in the 2021 Disney•Pixar animated feature film, *Luca.* He is the father of Giulia and a new friend of Luca Paguro and Alberto Scorfano.

## Background

Massimo is Giulia's dad, and a fisherman. He is a tattoed, imposing, one-armed fisherman, who says a few words, killing anything that swims. Luca and Alberto are a little scared of they're new friend's dad, and are mostly cautious around him. Massimo has a soft heart, especially for his daughter.

## Physical Appearance

Massimo is an italian adult living in the Italian Riveria, similar to one in the Dinsey•Pixar film Coco. His beard is similar to his cat, Machiavelli's muzzle, and he has thick, bushy eyebrows that cover his eyes. He seems to be looking much villainous, but he has a very kind heart.

## Role in the film

Massimo is first seen preparing dinner as his daughter Giulia brings in her two friends for dinner to which as Giulia receives an article from her father, she shows the two of an article of a sea monster sighting at Isola del Mare to which Giulia believes that this article is fake. However, Massimo denies just before getting the dinner ready. He then serves the trenette al pesto dish to the four and as the two begin eating the pasta he served them, he asks to know what brings them to Portorosso, to which Giulia explains that Luca and Alberto are there for the Portorosso Cup. After dinner, Massimo discusses with his daughter about participating in the race, explaining to her that he doesn't want her to lose the race because she would always get upset upon losing as well as explaining to her that participating during the Cup is not free and participators must pay to participate in this event. When Massimo explains that he needs to catch more fish for his net, Luca plans to help Massimo catch fish so that he can make money for Giulia to participate during the Cup.

The next day, Massimo tells Giulia to make deliveries to the townspeople while telling Luca and Alberto to catch fish for him. As they arrive at the ocean, Massimo greets Tommaso who tells him to keep an eye out for any sea monsters around as he arrives with his harpoon to protect himself from sea monsters. During a plan to catch fish, Massimo explains that he didn't catch enough fish for the day to which Alberto explains to him that the spot they are at is where most fish will be at the exact spot. Having caught enough fish for him, Giulia thanks her father for the task just before Luca and Alberto approach an ad promoting the Portorosso Cup. That night after a tough training, Massimo offers Alberto to help him with the fishing nets so that he can do the task for him.

During a training montage, Massimo helps Alberto catch more fish to help make more money for the Cup and later teaches Alberto how to eat pasta properly. Later after Alberto is forced to return back to his hideout after revealing his true form to Giulia, Luca and Giulia return to Massimo's kitchen (this time without Alberto) to which Luca decides to keep Alberto's identity private so that no one could notice him in sea monster form just before he and Machiavelli leave. Giulia later explains to Luca (who reveals part of his sea monster form) about the dangers of Portorosso, explaining to him that her father hunts sea monsters, telling him to get out of the town before the townspeople notice him to which Luca discusses that his parents are going to send him to Uncle Ugo at the deepest part of the ocean where no humans could detect him, believing that he would feel miserable just before he leaves and sits at the beach.

The next day during the Portorosso Cup, Massimo cheers on for his daughter while his pet cat Machiavelli holds a banner for him. Later, Massimo notices the rain arriving at Portorosso alongside the other townspeople during the bike competition. After Luca, Alberto, and Giulia arrive at the finish line, Massimo notices that Luca and Alberto are both sea monsters as he grabs a harpoon to kill them as Giulia gets protected by the two to get to the finish line. Giulia arrives to her father who notices that Luca and Alberto are not harming her. Suddenly, an angry mob surrounds the sea monsters as fishermen are equipped with harpoons and nets to kill the sea monsters. After noticing Ercole confronting Giulia, and asking her who are the sea monsters, Massimo later arrives and tells everyone that he knows who they are. Massimo revealed that they are Luca and Alberto and that they are the winners, much to their surprise. Massimo explains to Signora Marsigliese to know if Luca and Alberto are the winners to which she explains they technically and legally are the winners (as their bike made it across the finish line), much to Ercole's disgust. Massimo faces the fishermen to leave now because Luca and Alberto are not harming Giulia, to which they accept and walk away. Later that night, Massimo serves Luca's parents the pasta he makes with sea monsters being accepted to Portorosso.

As Giulia gets ready for school, Massimo makes sure to know if his daughter has her lunch ready as well as the sweater when it gets cold to which she tells that she does just before Giulia leaves for the train leading to Genova, alongside Luca and Alberto. Later in the end, it is revealed that he took the lonesome Alberto in as his own son.

## Trivia

* Massimo's mustache looks identical to the muzzle on Machiavelli.
	+ This could be a possible reference to Enrico Casarosa's short film *La Luna*, where Bambino compared Papà and Nonno's preferred tool to their facial hair.
* Massimo is the only character in the film to have a missing limb.
* While nothing really calls attention to it at any point in the movie, he and Giulia's mother must be divorced, especially since they live in different cities (though he and his ex-wife must also have joint custody of their daughter).
* In early adaptions of the films, there was a scene called Seamonster Cannery, where they canned 100% Prime Sea Monsters and sold them as cat food. Massimo's daughter Giulia takes out a water gun and sprays Luca Paguro with it and then Massimo stakes him into boiling out oil that turns the Sea monsters into canned versions.
* It’s made obvious in the film that Massimo begins feeling a fondness for Alberto. A hint of this was when both Alberto and Luca are exposed during the race. When Massimo says both of their names, identifying the two, his eyebrows contort into a sad expression when looking at Alberto. This could also be that he felt bad for wanting to kill him, given that the night before, he went to look for Alberto to ensure he was safe.

## Gallery

Dinner with Massimo.jpgLuca 29.pngV434 102f cs.sel16.309.jpgLuca 32.pngMassimo going to look for Alberto.pngLuca 61.pngLuca 62.pngGiulia 20.pngGiulia 21.png6C912C96-92A3-4F15-8F9C-3B7D380C2C05.png6226FA42-0757-436F-888E-9C3066E722D7.png50474C0E-4D7D-4C86-94D6-A64C44556920.png1E1E097E-6DBF-49E6-9F74-AFFB5332F857.png
### Concept art

102a 9781797207254.jpg103a 9781797207254.jpg103c 9781797207254.jpg104c 9781797207254.jpg105a 9781797207254.jpgLuca Character designs.jpeg
### Promotional

Luca poster (2).jpgLuca poster.jpgLuca - Massimo Promotional.png
### Stock art

Massimo-machiavelli.pngMassimo stock art.png
### Merchandise

Luca Figurines.jpg
1. ↑ Luca - Exclusive Official Deleted Scene