For an hour and fifty minutes over the Christmas weekend I became Italian (pronounced E’Tal’yan)! And I had a smile on my face the entire time.

Stacked with an all star cast of talent (Judi Dench, Sophie Loren, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Penelope Cruz, Stacy (Fergie) Ferguson and Daniel Day-Lewis) this musical is more about who’s who than a solid story line.

Nine is centered on the life of fame director Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis) who is trying to stage a huge comeback directing his next movie.  Problem is he is without a script and a muse. Having found fame early in his career, by pushing the button in his movies that were about sex, sex, sex and beautiful women, he is now trying to figure out his purpose in life.  The poor guy is obviously having a mid-life crisis. Married to the beautiful long suffering Luisa (I never thought that name to be sexy until now- played by Marion Cotillard) whom he loves dearly but can’t seem to turn his back on his mistress the spicy sex kitten Carla (played by Penelope Cruz). Those of you who follow me on “ireport” know I am not a fan of Penelope, but after seeing her move on the floor in a black and pink Teddy singing “A Call from the Vatican” I’m a fan!

Through out the movie Guido is guided by his trusted costume designer Lilli (the matronly but sophisticated Dame Judi Dench) and his beloved Mamma (the elegant Sophia Loren still sexy as ever!) to do the right thing by his wife and himself.

Rounding off the cast of flirtatious temptuous women is Nicole Kidman as Claudia _ one of Guido’s former steamy muses (Claudia another name I thought bland until now). There’s also the gypsy Saraghina (played by Fergie) who somewhat introduced a young Guido and friends to feminine wile. This character’s name has sex dripping from it. And last but not least the sexy Vogue reporter Stephanie (played by Kate Hudson _  not sure why A-Rod let her get away from him). The song she sang “Cinema Italiano” wearing silver go-go boots and a flashy silver mini was Hot! No _ it was more than hot _ it was burning the walkway she jiggled on!

If you are not a fan of musicals (and great music you will get), this movie is not for you.  That being said, if you like glitz glamour and don’t mind singing, dancing and not big on story lines or character development this movie is for you. If nothing else, when you leave the movie the name Guido Contini will be indelibly etched in your head.

Nine is directed by Rob Marshall (who directed the 2002 Oscar winning movie Chicago).

C+ Story line

A + Cast of characters