You know I had to talk about this one! I finally caught the sequel to Mascarpone, and while it was definitely worth watching, my brain is still processing that it didn’t quite give me the same rush as the original. Get ready, because we’re talking about Antonio (my swoony boy!) and his messy, messy love life.
Quick Info:
Title: Mascarpone: The Rainbow Cake (Original: Maschile Plurale)
Year: 2024
Directed by: Alessandro Guida and Matteo Pilati
Staring (Main actors): Giancarlo Commare (Antonio), Gianmarco Saurino (Luca), Michela Giraud (Cristina)
Where I watched it: HereTV
Queer-o-Metter
🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈🏳️🌈 (Yeah, this one is maxed out. It’s a beautifully, sometimes painfully, gay film about identity and dating as an adult. The chaotic queer energy is strong.)
One Line Summary
The newly self-assured baker Antonio learns that being hot and single is great, but getting over your ex is a whole different type of emotional trauma—especially when said ex shows back up looking amazing and annoyingly happy.
Standout Scene
Okay, there’s this one moment where Antonio and Luca actually talk—like, truly talk—in what feels like forever. It’s not some dramatic fight, just this quiet, desperate conversation about what they used to be and what they’ve become. Giancarlo Commare’s face just melts with regret and yearning. You can almost feel the air go thin. I was like, “Ugh, this is why I need to stop texting people from 2018.” The cinematography was gorgeous, too; the light was all soft and moody. Seriously, that scene is going to stick with me.
Favorite Line:
“For me, loving means choosing, it doesn’t mean collecting.”
Plot Summary
So, we pick up with Antonio living his best life! He’s a successful pastry chef now, running the gorgeous bakery he opened in the first movie, and he’s finally confident in who he is after his big breakup. He’s dating, he’s thriving, you know the drill. But life is never that simple, right? His old flame, Luca (Gianmarco Saurino), the one Antonio was totally obsessed with, shows up again. This brings all the old feelings rushing back, and Antonio, who thought he was over it, completely loses his equilibrium.
The movie then follows Antonio as he tries to figure out if he should fight for the past he idealized or embrace the future he’s building. He’s also trying to navigate his friendships, especially with his straight friend, Cristina (Michela Giraud), who is, honestly, the voice of reason and also the queen of sass. It’s all about second chances—or realizing that some things are meant to stay beautiful memories. It’s emotional, but also funny, because Antonio is just such a disaster sometimes.
Would I Rewatch?
Maybe — with wine.
Review
Let me just say, I had high hopes for this one because I truly loved the first Mascarpone. And honestly? While it was entertaining and definitely worth the ticket price, I just don’t think the sequel had the same unique magic as the original. The first film was about Antonio’s internal rediscovery, and it felt so fresh and personal. This one, while emotional, sometimes felt like it was treading familiar ground, and I missed that feeling of total immersion I had before.
That said, Giancarlo Commare as Antonio is still absolutely swoon-worthy. He’s got this incredible ability to show immense vulnerability without needing huge dramatic scenes. You can see the shift from the confident, stylish baker to the panicked, insecure ex-boyfriend just in the way he holds his shoulders. I truly felt his ache. It’s tough watching a character you love make all the wrong moves because they are scared of being alone, you know?
Gianmarco Saurino as Luca is also fantastic. He plays Luca with this quiet strength. Luca isn’t the villain; he’s just a person who had to move on, and his return forces Antonio to finally grow up. The chemistry between them? Still fantastic. But I just couldn’t shake the feeling that the plot spent a little too much time circling back to old hurts.
Cristina, his sidekick, is the comedic relief and the essential tough-love provider, though. Michela Giraud is just hilarious; every time she’s on screen, I breathe a sigh of relief because I know she’s about to give Antonio a dose of reality. The movie is real—it’s about choosing yourself and your future—but the original just did it better for me.
Final Thoughts
Go watch this! Seriously, it’s entertaining and definitely a must-see for fans of the first film, especially just to see swoony Antonio again. It made me laugh, it made me tear up a bit, and it made me want to bake a giant, brightly colored cake. It’s a solid flick about adulting and emotional maturity, but it’s not the masterpiece its predecessor was. Love the Italian cinema aesthetic, though—everything still looks so vibrant and a little bittersweet.
The Cinema Club Verdict:
⭐⭐⭐ – I’m docking two full stars because it didn’t have the unique magic, emotional punch, or fresh narrative drive of the original. Still a fun watch, though!
If you’ve seen Mascarpone: The Rainbow Cake — or have a film I need to add to my queue — let me know in the comments or yell at me on BlueSky