Pizza My Heart

Pizza My Heart is a wholesome, 2005 made-for-TV romantic comedy film directed by Andy Wolk. It centers around the captivating story of a star-crossed love just like Romeo and Juliet’s, only with a little lighter and less tragic twist. The film stars talented cast members Shiri Appleby, who is known for her roles in “Roswell” and “UnReal”, Eyal Podell, seen in “The Young and the Restless”, and Dan Hedaya, recognized for “Clueless” and “The Usual Suspects”.

This charming story is set in Verona, New Jersey, a town where two rival pizzerias are in a fierce competition for customers. For years, the Montebellos and the Prestolanis, two families with a generations-old grudge, have been trying to outdo each other in a bid to be declared the best pizza joint in town. This pizza rivalry has turned into loathing of an epic scale, threatening to divide the community of Verona. But fate has another plan.

Shiri Appleby plays the beautiful, nurturing Gina Prestolani, a loyal part of her family's pizzeria, Prestolani’s Pizzeria. She adores her family's traditional Italian values and food, but also dreams of experiencing the world and expanding her horizons through a culinary school in Paris. At the heart of this community rivalry, Gina finds herself caught in the midst of her family's stubbornness.

The handsome and charismatic grandson of the Montebello family, Joe, is portrayed by Eyal Podell. Unlike Gina, Joe is less concerned about the riff raff between families or escalating the pizza war, as he is too busy building a successful internet startup. Despite being the Montebello's golden boy, Joe aspires to establish his own identity distinct from the family business.

The story takes an unexpected turn when Gina and Joe meet without realizing each other’s familial connection. Sparks fly immediately; their characteristics are complementary, and they naturally enjoy each other’s company. They slowly start to fall for each other, despite being completely averse to the idea of being in a relationship due to their ongoing family feud.

However, after discovering each other's identities, both are faced with critical decisions for their love life and their families. With the rivalry between the families becoming increasingly worse, it seems like their love story is doomed from the start. But their love for each other may just be enough to bring the families together.

As the romantic tension between Gina and Joe escalates, the ongoing feud between their families also intensifies, leading to more high-stakes and comic situations throughout the movie. Behind all the chaos though, beneath the rivalry and resentment, there are glimpses that hint towards the equally long history of respect and admiration beneath the surface animosity between the Prestolanis and Montebellos. This lingering sentiment might just act as the saving grace for our protagonists.

Casting an equal light on the comedy and romance aspects of this film, director Andy Wolk takes viewers through a roller coaster of emotions. The movie does a fantastic job of showcasing the importance of family, community, tradition, rivalry, and ultimately love. The beautiful, heartwarming scenes of Italian culture, food, and family discussions are complemented by the intense romantic moments, giving the audience a vibrant essence of what it feels like to be a part of an Italian-American family.

The film’s script is punctuated with comic relief, making Pizza My Heart a complete package of entertainment. Dan Hedaya delivers a brilliant performance as Paddy Montebello, the family patriarch, who is hilariously stubborn, offering some of the movie’s best comedic moments, but progressively revealing a deeper layer to his character.

Pizza My Heart is a sweet and lighthearted film with a fresh take on forbidden love. It’s got everything you would want in a rom-com - humor, warm-heartedness, captivating characters and, most importantly, pizza! This film is sure to leave you cheering for Gina and Joe's romance, and perhaps even craving a slice of pizza by the end.