5 Star Christmas

5 Star Christmas is a 2018 Italian comedy set against a spectacular holiday backdrop, directed by Marco Risi and starring Massimo Ghini, Ricky Memphis, and Martina Stella.

In the midst of the holiday season, Massimo Ghini plays the role of The Italian Prime Minister Lele Baiocchi, stationed in Budapest, Hungary. He is accompanied by his sly collaborator and best friend, Ricky Memphis, portraying the role of the faithful private secretary Lorenzo. In addition, the beautiful Martina Stella sprinkles some more sparkle to the fabulous Christmas ambiance as being cast as Anna, Lorenzo's wife, who's accompanying him on this lustrous but very chaotic political trip.

The central theme of 5 Star Christmas lies in the intriguing mix of comedy, romance, and a dash of political satire, all of which unfolds within the magnificent confines of a five-star hotel in Budapest. The astonishing and luxurious hotel scenery serves as the backdrop to a series of comic and absurd events the main characters find themselves embroiled in.

As the plot unravels, we witness Lele Baiocchi with the burden of uplifting the plummeting approval ratings of his party back home in Italy, in the face of a mighty opposition gearing up to overthrow him. Additionally, his private life is a clandestine affair amid a burgeoning relationship with his beautiful parlamentarian lover, Gilda.

On the other hand, Lorenzo, the inflexible secretary of Baiocchi, who toils relentlessly behind the scenes to manage the chaos, finds mounting tension in his personal life. Anna, Lorenzo's wife, on this adventure unbeknownst, suspects that Lorenzo is embarking on an extramarital affair and devises a plan to catch him red-handed.

Delighted by the prospect of meeting his youthful lover Yara (Joyce Brando) outside Italy, the Prime Minister's joy is short-lived, as an unexpected family surprise disrupts his plans. Meanwhile, the chaos intensifies in the five-star hotel with a series of amusing mix-ups and misunderstandings. The comic timing of the ensemble cast, especially Ghini's, keeps the audience giggling and the plot moving at a quick pace.

While Baiocchi and Lorenzo try to unravel their personal mess under the public eye, they are unaware that they are being watched by a journalist who is striving to uncover a scandal that could bring their careers to a tragic end. This sense of imminent downfall adds a layer of suspense to the film’s comedic punch.

The movie is painted with vivid colours of visual luxury thanks to perfect cinematography that brings Budapest's elegance to life and supplements it with the festive aura of Christmas. The hotel’s magnificent interiors play as an essential character in the film, housing the characters and hosting the comedy of errors that forms the heart of 5 Star Christmas.

Marco Risi does a remarkable job as a director, using his experience, wit, and knowledge to craft a comedic story within a luxurious setting, filled with colorful, eccentric personalities. He strikes an admirable balance between humor, personal predicaments, and keeps the audience guessing about what could happen next.

There is something undeniably enjoyable about the chaos that decorates the backdrop of Yuletide's peace and calm. 5 Star Christmas is a fun, ideal film to watch during the holiday season while bringing humor and satire to the world of politics, personal entanglements, and misconceptions.

Overall, 5 Star Christmas is a delightful comedy that delivers laughs amid the beauty of the holiday season, filled with notable performances by Ghini, Memphis, and Stella. The film's strength lies in its lighthearted plot, chaos of comedy and romance, the mysterious aura of a potential scandal, and the beautifully shot landscapes and interiors that serve as the movie's playground. This festive film successfully blends humor, politics, and romance, creating an enjoyable narrative that is as fun as it is engaging.