I Vitelloni

In Brief: Long before Judd Apatow turned the 30-something-man-boy into a cottage industry (in fact, long before Apatow was even born), Federico Fellini made I Vitelloni (1953), which remains probably the best such look at emotionally stunted males. It's a film that has been all but overlooked because of the fame of Fellini's La Strada the next year. Personally, I'll take I Vitelloni with its somewhat meandering story about five young Italian men (the Vitelloni, or "overgrown veals," of the title). They're in their 30s and drifting aimlessly in their provincial town. It can't even be said that they have big dreams that exceed their abilities. Mostly, they're content to stay where they are and talk about their "plans." Their lives are like a rough sketch for the aimless hedonists of La Dolce Vita (1960) — except these guys aren't even very good at hedonism and lack any trace of style. The only exception is Moraldo (Franco Interlenghi), who might almost age into the Marcello Mastroianni of La Dolce Vita. There's not much of a story, but the film is rich in detail and character. Plus, the carnival ball is a magnificent set-piece.