james-81 Reviews

C'era un cinese in coma (2000)

plot summary

[8/10 · 14 March 2000]

"C'era un cinese in coma" is reminiscent of Verdone's 1996 film "Sono pazzo di Iris Blonde" in that both have as their plot Verdone the show business pro guiding his young discovery on the road to fame and fortune, eventually eclipsing Verdone's capacity to control the situation. The co-star in this movie is male however, unlike the love-interest-with-a-younger-woman theme in most of Verdone's films.

When Ercole Preziosi (Verdone) discovers that his driver, Niki Renda, has a natural talent for "sexy comedy", he puts him on the stage. How will Niki deal with his instant celebrity status? How will it affect Ercole and Niki's friendship and Ercole's family relationships?

The title of the film refers to a joke, mentioned continually throughout the film. For the punch line, you'll have to wait patiently until the end.

Facciamo fiesta (1997)

Plot Summary

[1/10 · 20 September 1999]

Two Italians go to Cuba to make a documentary about the country for a travel agency. Unfortunately they get cheated at every turn by the locals, from car dealers to prostitutes to estate agents. On the bright side for them, there is the love interest in the form of two local ladies.

Gallo cedrone (1998)

Plot Summary

[9/10 · 11 December 1998]

The title is more than just a play on 'Carlo Verdone'.

Gallo in Italian means rooster and the character played by Verdone, Armando Feroci, is a real ladies man passing up no opportunity to hit on the women he meets. The film explains the life of Armando Feroci in the eyes of his friends, his wife, his daughter, his brother and his brother's wife, all the while revolving around the plot of Feroci's kidnapping. Who took him? Will he be freed? Why did it happen? This is an extremely funny film, one of Verdone's best, and I'd recommend it to anybody.

Stasera a casa di Alice (1990)

Plot Summary

[7/10 · 11 December 1998]

Alice (Ornella Muti) dubs porn films for a living and is having an affair with Verdone's brother. When Verdone finds out about the affair he goes round to visit Alice to put an end to it, but then he falls for Alice himself. Soon the two men are competing for Alice's affections whilst trying to hide the truth from their wives.

Not Verdone's best film, but still very funny in parts.

Donne con le gonne (1991)

plot summary for Donne con le gonne

[17 November 1998]

A man is accused of spousal abuse, having allegedly chained his wife to a wall. The lawyer defending him takes us through the history of how he and his wife met and their marriage over a period of several years, culminating in the alleged kidnap and chaining of his own wife. What could lead a husband to do this? What will the court decide? Will his wife forgive him? All is revealed at the end.

The film is very funny in parts, sad in others. I enjoyed it because it accurately captures the problems of marriage, albeit in an exaggerated form.