'Solo Mio' Review: Kevin James's Rome dramedy seen as clichéd

Calum Marsh reviews Solo Mio (Feb. 2, 2026), an earnest dramedy written, produced by and starring Kevin James that follows an American man left at the altar who plays out his honeymoon in Rome. James plays Matt Taylor, and the review says the setup and jokes feel familiar: pat Italian caricatures, mix-ups with local customs and arguments over the correct way to pronounce "zucchero." Marsh writes that the drama verges on self-parody, and he describes Matt’s instantly improbable rebound with Gia (Nicole Grimaudo); the reviewer said he "had to stifle a laugh" during the sentimental climax, which restages the Catalina Wine Mixer finale of Step Brothers but plays it straight.

Marsh criticizes the directors, brothers Charles and Daniel Kinnane, for a lack of interest in the women’s perspectives. He writes that the movie is "weirdly hostile" toward Donna (Julee Cerda), that other women function as mirrors, that Gia seems to exist mainly to be enamored with Matt, and that his former fiancée Heather (Julie Ann Emery) is sidelined almost entirely.

The reviewer credits the effort, but concludes that the comedian "needs a better vehicle than this thinly plotted, clichéd film." Solo Mio is rated PG, runs 1 hour and 36 minutes, and is in theaters. What is known from the review: who made and stars in the film, basic plot points and Marsh’s criticisms of its clichés and portrayal of women.

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