Massimo's Morality: A Wedding Planner's Ethics

Massimo, played by Justin Chambers, is introduced as a childhood acquaintance of Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) in the 2001 romantic comedy film 'The Wedding Planner'. Mary's father wants them to marry, but she declines. Massimo later proposes to Mary, and she reluctantly accepts. However, on their wedding day, Mary realises that she is in love with someone else and leaves Massimo at the altar. While Massimo's actions in the film are driven by his love for Mary, his decision to propose to her despite knowing that she does not reciprocate his feelings may be considered questionable. Ultimately, whether or not Massimo is a good guy is subjective and open to interpretation by the audience.

Massimo's accent

Despite the criticism, "The Wedding Planner" was a box office success, grossing $94.7 million worldwide.

Massimo's proposal

In the 2001 romantic comedy "The Wedding Planner", Massimo (Justin Chambers) is reintroduced to childhood acquaintance Mary Fiore (Jennifer Lopez) by her father Salvatore, who wants them to marry. Mary, however, is focused on her career ambitions and declines.

At a birthday party, Massimo offers Mary a heartfelt proposal, to which she reluctantly agrees. The two couples—Mary and Massimo, and Mary's client Fran Donolly and her fiancé, Dr. Steve Edison—prepare for their respective weddings.

Massimo: Mary, I know I've never done the right thing or said the right thing. I know I act like a fool. I know we said we'd be buddy-buddy friends, but that would not be true to my heart, so I'll ask this one question, and if you answer "no" I'll leave you alone once and for all. Be my wife, Mary Fiore. If you answer yes, I'll take care of you, be true to you, and, like this house I built for your dolls, I'll make sure you have a strong roof over your head. If you answer yes, no one will love you as much as I love you. If you answer yes, you will make me the happiest man on earth.

Mary, conflicted and feeling as though she has given up on true love, accepts Massimo's proposal. However, on the day of the wedding, she realizes that he is not the one for her and leaves the ceremony.

Massimo's character

Massimo is a childhood acquaintance of Mary Fiore, the female protagonist of 'The Wedding Planner'. He is reintroduced to Mary by her father, Salvatore, who wants them to marry. Massimo is an Italian immigrant with a strong accent, and his character has been described as a "thick-accented Sicilian cassanova".

Massimo is presented as a romantic figure, making a heartfelt proposal to Mary and building her a dollhouse as a child. He is also shown to ride a scooter. However, some viewers have criticised Justin Chambers' portrayal of Massimo, describing his accent as "horrible" and "so bad it ruins his otherwise likeable character".

Despite Massimo's apparent affection for Mary, she declines his proposal initially, only accepting later in the film. At their wedding, Massimo reveals that he cannot go through with the ceremony because he knows Mary is in love with someone else. This act of selflessness helps her realise her true feelings, and she leaves him at the altar to pursue her true love, Steve Edison.

Massimo's scooter

The scooter is a symbol of the two men's newfound camaraderie and their shared goal of wanting what is best for Mary. It also adds a touch of levity and romance to the film's climax as the two men speed off to the park where Mary is, demonstrating their determination to reach her and resolve the love triangle.

The scooter is also a practical choice for transportation in the busy city of San Francisco, where the film is set. It allows the characters to navigate through traffic and get to their destination quickly, adding to the sense of urgency in the story's conclusion.

Overall, Massimo's scooter plays a pivotal role in the film's ending, bringing the two male leads together and leading them to their romantic resolution with Mary.

Massimo's relationship with Mary's father

Massimo Lenzetti and Mary Fiore's father, Salvatore Fiore, have a complicated relationship. Salvatore wants his daughter to marry Massimo and goes to great lengths to make that happen. He arranges for Mary to be reintroduced to Massimo, a childhood acquaintance, and expresses his desire for them to marry. However, Mary is not interested in Massimo and is focused on her career ambitions. Despite this, Salvatore continues to push for the marriage, even going as far as to lie about his own arranged marriage to Mary's mother, claiming that it became a loving relationship months later.

Salvatore's deception leaves Mary conflicted and confused. She eventually agrees to marry Massimo, but her heart is not in it. On the day of their wedding, Salvatore realizes that Mary is not truly in love with Massimo and stops the ceremony. He acknowledges that his daughter's happiness is more important than his own desires and encourages Steve Edison, the man Mary truly loves, to go after her.

Salvatore's relationship with Massimo is strained due to his daughter's reluctance to marry him. While Salvatore initially sees Massimo as a suitable partner for his daughter, he ultimately puts Mary's wishes first and gives his blessing to her relationship with Steve. Massimo also demonstrates integrity by refusing to marry Mary knowing that she loves someone else. He reveals his knowledge of Mary's true feelings to Salvatore and rides off with Steve to stop the wedding.

In conclusion, Massimo and Salvatore's relationship is complex and evolves throughout the film. While Salvatore initially pushes for the marriage, he ultimately respects his daughter's wishes and supports her choice to follow her heart. Massimo, likewise, demonstrates integrity and honesty by refusing to marry Mary under false pretenses. Their interactions highlight the importance of family, honesty, and following one's heart.

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