Solo Mio (2026)

“Solo Mio” stars Kevin James, Kim Coates, Nicole Grimaudo, Alyson Hannigan, and Jonathan Roumie.  Released on February 6, 2026, the film follows a man who is spending his planned honeymoon in Italy alone.

The film was directed by Chuck and Dan Kinnane, who also directed “Water Brother: The Sid Abbruzzi Story” and collaborated with Kevin James on viral shorts and the 2022 sports comedy “Home Team”.  We’re in the first week of February, meaning that we’re in the midst of some more cinematic love once again.  While some are already expressing their love to their partners or families, most of us are struggling to find it, let alone regain it.  That part of humanity has a difficult time either finding that one perfect soulmate they want to spend the rest of their lives with or, in most cases, rediscovering love after abandonment or loss.  One such case is a man whose dreams of a happily ever after are crushed when someone decides to abandon him at the last minute.  Isn’t love just the greatest thing in the world?  This sums up the romantic comedy from the Kinnane Brothers, which features their collaborator, Kevin James, on a solo honeymoon in a country where love is a pretty big deal.  At the very least, the sights there are absolutely breathtaking.  Is this cinematic honeymoon worth falling in love with, or does it make audiences want to abandon it at the altar?  Let’s find out.

The story follows Matt Taylor (James), an art teacher who’s preparing to marry the love of his life, Heather (Julie Ann Emery), through a dream wedding in Rome.  Unfortunately, the picturesque Italian wedding immediately went south when he discovered that his fiancée had left him at the altar.  As a result, a heartbroken Matt decides to spend his honeymoon alone.  As he struggles to move on from Heather's surprise action, Matt encounters a local named Julian (Coates), who decides to show Matt the time of his life.  While meeting with other locals, including Gia (Grimaudo), and exploring Italy's culture, Matt would eventually realize that sometimes heartbreak is just the beginning of a better story.

This is another rom-com that has caught my attention despite my minuscule experience with the genre, mainly due to Kevin James’s involvement.  The actor’s previous films have been hit-or-miss in terms of quality, particularly comedies, but I will admit that James has the charisma and humor needed to elevate them.  He has also proven to be more than just a comedian through his uncommon roles in movies such as “Little Boy”, “Becky”, and “Guns Up”.  So, I thought it would be interesting to see James continue this streak with a project that blends romance, humor, and light-hearted drama.  On the other hand, the Kinnane Brothers’ previous collaboration with Kevin James, “Home Team”, made me very concerned about their execution of this concept because of how forgettable and by-the-numbers that sports comedy was.  Not to mention, it’s the latest movie from Angel Studios, which may or may not always attract a crowd, depending on the premise.
 
The last movie I watched from Angel Studios was “Sketch” last year, though that was due to the mystery movie event.  While its seemingly fun concept had a good message, I thought its execution fell flat in its entertainment value and storytelling.  That experience might’ve been another reason I hadn’t reviewed that many films from Angel Studios, whose donations have bitten off more than they could chew in the studio's “generosity”.  To my surprise, history has repeated itself, as “Solo Mio” wound up being the latest mystery movie that I had to endure.  I guess Angel Studios is helping me make up for the majority of their catalog I’ve been missing out on.  Though I can’t say I was thrilled with what it’s doing for me.  “Solo Mio” should suit fans of the genre well, especially with its inspiring messages.  Unfortunately, those themes primarily serve as an autopilot for its derivative and surprisingly forgettable narrative.
 
Obviously, this is due to my lack of enthusiasm for romantic comedies since they’re mostly cut from the same Italian cloth.  However, there are a few exceptions that I enjoyed not just for how they revitalize the formula, but also for the spark in the characters’ chemistry and emotional hook.  So, I’m not a complete hater of the romance genre.  I’m just really picky about how they handle its tropes.  Sadly, I can conclude that “Solo Mio” does not make the list.  It’s basically another romance movie where a protagonist loses love for some reason, only to embark on a life-changing experience to regain it with someone else.  It’s a classic love story that usually makes the audience's hearts soar all the way to Italy.  But “Solo Mio” makes me want to send my heart back to the United States.
 
The Kinnane Brothers, Chuck and Dan, certainly intend to make a grounded, light-hearted romance that blends drama with restrained humor.  However, they struggled to find the right spark and spiritual inspiration in that mixture to make the romantic journey more appealing, or at least more fun.  It’s not like they didn’t try, as it had a few moments of levity from its supporting characters.  It’s that their approach to its tone and the characters’ chemistry lacks the Italian pizazz in its basic routine.  The charm of an awkward guy like Matt and a spiritual woman like Gia is there, but the Kinnane Brothers weren’t able to fully grasp it for more than a few seconds to keep me engaged.  The same goes for its humor, which stems more from human connection than from physical slapstick, given James’ experience with Happy Madison movies.  It had a couple of moments that made me chuckle a bit, but they’re not enough to make this depressing solo honeymoon any more amusing than it should be.  I’m not saying they should include more physical comedy in its tone, but it should at least distract me from its draggy pacing and my frustration towards Heather’s last-minute decision. 

The screenplay, written by Kevin James, Patrick Kinnane, and John Kinnane, also had some potential, particularly for its themes.  “Solo Mio” is not just about love, but also about embracing the life around us.  Being heartbroken is one of the worst things a person could ever experience, especially when the supposed love of their life leaves them on their wedding day.  However, that shouldn’t deter them from putting themselves out there again.  It reflects the significance of living life to the fullest despite facing hardships, helping one find love again with the one who truly matters.  It’s inspiring enough to appease the genre’s fans and maybe those in a similar situation.  Sadly, its storytelling lacks the extra push it needed to fully embrace its messages with emotional flair.  Its tropes were as by-the-numbers as any other romantic comedy, leading to some predictably boring moments that lacked much enjoyment in its journey, save for that one twist at the end that left me feeling conflicted at first.  Like the direction, the screenplay has promise, but its formulaic, generic routine overshadows what could’ve been an enjoyable and inspirational rom-com.

At the very least, its cast did their part in making this solo honeymoon a bit tolerable for me.  As I said before, Kevin James usually delivers the goods in his comedic roles, but he earns my respect for experimenting outside his comfort zone, whether in action or drama.  For his role as Matt, James aims for a more subtle approach, blending heart and drama with a dash of charisma.  The result is yet another respectable change of pace for the actor, delivering a performance that’s heartfelt and grounded in realism.  While it could’ve been used for a better project, Kevin James’s portrayal of a heartbroken teacher further showcases his acting capabilities beyond his traditional comedic standards.  Another actor who surprisingly caught my attention was Kim Coates, also known as Alexander “Tig” Trager from “Sons of Anarchy”.  Coates plays Julian, one of the locals who tries to help Matt get out of his heartbreak slump.  Despite the humor being forgettable, Coates understood the assignment of providing the levity needed to elevate this solo vacation, making him one of the film's tolerable aspects.  Nicole Grimaudo and Alyson Hannigan were also fine in their roles as Gia and Meghan, respectively, though not enough to overcome the script’s shortcomings.

Overall, “Solo Mio” delivers a cinematic honeymoon that lacks the Italian flair and love needed to overshadow its generic genre tropes.  Its messages offer a hint of inspiration that’ll likely please fans of this approach, but the Kinnane Brothers abandoned its potential with a by-the-numbers, subpar, and charmless vacation that brings nothing new to the rom-com table.  Though it may attract followers of the genre, it’s sadly not enough to convince those outside the target audience to take this Italian holiday.  Kevin James and Kim Coates made an effort to make it as vibrant as the country, with the former delivering one of his most heartfelt performances of his career.  Besides that, this is one honeymoon that’s better left abandoned at the altar.  I wouldn’t say it’s a bad film since it delivered what it promised in the genre, but its underwhelming direction, weak screenplay, and iffy pacing will make me forget about this solo vacation in a few days.

D+