When Italy's funniest fat guy Bud Spencer gets framed for a murder he didn't commit, it's up to his two young kids, Mino and Raffaello, to not only prove his innocence, but to also get up to some con-based hi-jinks!
In this feel good film, we follow the antics of the two fatherless brothers as they shill the rubes in Tyrin. From the old 'dipping the purse' routine to the 'pretend to sell cigarettes and cause a scene to get them back' move, Mino and Raffaello are able to support themselves, and their poor mother, while gaining the friendship of a lawyer who'll help them free their father.
Through heartfelt, emotional flashbacks, we find Bud to be a well- meaning, loving caring father who loves his kids but is also a man strong enough to stand up for his fellow Southern Italians, come to the North to find work. Although family orientated, the director throws in a little social commentary into the works. This is the politically charged seventies, after all.
We also follow the kids and the lawyer as they uncover evidence that crooks may have set up their father. Tracking down all the original witnesses, they find that someone seems to be trying to cover up the evidence, as they are being followed everywhere by hired goons, leading to a tense scene where one of the kids has to hide himself away from two vicious guard dogs.
All is not lost however! When things are at their darkest, someone comes forward with a testimony that may clear their father! Can young Mino get that recording to the police before the hired goon gets him? Well...no...as the goon catches him, beats him senseless, steals the tape and throws him under a moving train...that's...er...quite a shift in tone there film....
When Bud finds out about this, he's given some compassionate leave to visit the mangled Mino in hospital. On the way there he's involved in a horrible car crash and while the police are trying to put out a guy on fire, Bud escapes, talks his younger son into giving him a gun, guns down everyone responsible, says goodbye to his dying son, then leaves his other son confused and in tears while the police drive him off to jail forever...wait, what?
THE END...err...they don't make like that in Hollywood.
4 out of 4 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
