Starring Nick Scotti and Anthony Barrile Directed by Tony Vitale Rated R, with profanity and brief sex Running time 90 minutes Jack gives this film a rating of 7 out of 10

(Aug. 29, 1997) -- Frankie is a 24-year-old pizza parlor employee who dreams of being an actor. But so far, his experience is limited to the weak imitations he does for friends of memorable De Niro, Pacino and Stallone dialogue.

Warren is a gay actor and choreographer who lives alone in a West Village apartment since his ex-roommate and lover left him for another man.

Neither man would normally give the other the time of day. Warren sees the Bronx Italian as a gold-chain-wearing, dimwitted, macho homophobe. Meanwhile, Frankie has been raised in a culture that views Warren and other gays as disgusting fags -- limp-wristed deviants who might as well be from another planet.

The two come amusingly together, though, when Frankie answers an apartment ad placed by Warren. Sure, Warren notes that he's a GWM (gay white male), but Frankie assumes GWM stands for "guy with money."

And Frankie is desperate to get out of his Bronx neighborhood, especially after he comes home one night to find his girlfriend having sex with his brother on the kitchen table.

So Frankie answers Warren's ad -- and is excited to learn that Warren is active in Manhattan's downtown theater scene. In fact, just after they meet, Frankie is invited to meet a director who is putting together a cast for a very off-Broadway play.

Throughout the process, Frankie still hasn't a clue about the sexual orientation of Warren and his friends -- he just sees an opportunity to improve his living situation and launch his acting career.

Though initially astonished and wary, Warren begins to warm to the sweetly naive Frankie. Can a straight guy and a gay guy put aside their prejudices and develop a friendship? Yes, but what happens when their equally prejudiced family and friends come into the picture?

Kiss Me, Guido is a low-budget, first-time film from writer-director Tony Vitale, whose clever and funny script more than makes up for the film's bare-boned production style. Shot in a baldly lit, straightforward manner, the film still charms us with its witty dialogue and amusing lead performances.

Singer and soap opera star Nick Scotti projects the right balance of innocence and faux-macho swagger as Frankie, while Anthony Barrile is appropriately bemused and frustrated as Warren.

Though gay cinema has made significant progress in the 1990s, films that successfully bridge the straight and gay cultures remain rare. Even more unusual are such films that make the connections with light-hearted good humor and very little preaching. Kiss Me, Guido is that sort of film.