Managing to explore both the fear of commitment of a late 20-something male and the gnawing disappointment of his prospective mother-in-law, writer/director Gabriele Muccino's engaging ensemble piece also succeeds in alternating between romantic comedy and soap opera without becoming quaint or melodramatic. Much of this has to do with the screenplay's calculated intricacy and the accomplished performances of Stefano Accorsi and Stefania Sandrelli. But everyone — from Accorsi's laddish mates to the women they betray — is atuned to the storyline's occasionally abrupt shifts of tone, ensuring we continue to care about them even when their fears and failings feel overly familiar. Warm, witty and watchable.