Squadra antifurto (1976) User Reviews

The cop to be(at)

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 28 July 2021]

I watched this because it was free on Netflix ... and I do like crime movies. I had no idea we get a recurring character (is it 7 movies this character and as far as I know same actor, has appeared in?) ... so while some knew what he was up to - I was caught be surprise somewhat.

That being said, you will get almost all the information you need, to know the character. Also there are reasons he has a pet mouse called Serpico ... generally speaking the obvious similarities to Pacino of that time and era ... well I think even nowadays, anyone who has seen a fair share of movies, will immediately get the love this shares and has for him.

Apart from that, we also have the sound effects when people are being hit (which sound ridiculous and funny at the same time, for better or worse) and car chases and other 70s stuff. Love it or hate it - this does not care (about PC or your opinion I reckon). Have not yet seen the other entries, but I assume they are similar ... not sure when I'll be watching them ... and if.

Millian returns as inspector Nico Giraldi

[rust-7 · 23 March 2003]

This is Corbuchi's third entry in a series of cop-thrillers featuring Thomas Millian as inspector Nico Giraldi. This series features more humor than other Italian cop-thrillers. They also contain less violence and less of a political statement. And worst of all there is hardly a story-line. Instead the movie focuses on Millian as a fun-loving member of a anti-theft squad. This particular movie is even a step down from it's earlier entry's. If you're looking for comedy go for it, but if you're looking for a good example of an Italian cop-thriller with lots of action, violence, corruption, and a revenge-theme you'll have to look elsewhere.

An excellently put-together polizia flick

[Leofwine_draca · 8/10 · 30 July 2016]

The huge success of Bruno Corbucci's THE COP IN BLUE JEANS led him to make dozens of sequels, always with star Tomas Milian playing SERPICO-inspired Italian cop Nico Giraldi, in the following years. HIT SQUAD is the first of these sequels and is nearly identical in feel to the original film, except with a different storyline and different supporting characters of course. What begins as a gag-fuelled comedy somehow turns into a hard-boiled crime flick which manages to retain the comedy and be thrilling at the same time.

The humour is mostly of the lowbrow variety and consists of Milian endlessly calling people "turds" but it comes so thick and fast that you can't help but laugh. Milian is at the top of his game as the badly-dressed cop you hate to love and seems to be really enjoying himself in the part, a real character performance. Check out for scenes involving Serpico, the white mouse who returns from the original movie (and this time gets a girlfriend!), Milian cavorting around in red speedos (I'm sure the millions of girls who drooled after David Duchovny did the same thing once in an X-FILES episode won't be so keen here) and the inherent coolness Milian carries from scene to scene.

After lots of slapstick comedy and a gag involving a man eating his own excrement, the plot begins for real. A gang of petty robbers have fallen in at the deep end by stealing an important notebook full of facts and figures involving illegal money-making schemes. The film's most shocking scene features one such thief attempting to sell said notebook back to one of the intended victims but instead finding himself brutally beaten to death with a spade and encased in concrete! A series of violent murders follow and Milian finds himself caught up in them, taking plenty of time out to romance beautiful Italian women, of course. The imported American star this time around is Robert Webber, who initially appears to be an innocent victim.

The action aspects of the movie are well-choreographed and excellently handled, as usual for the genre. Giraldi rides a motorbike, so there are lots of cool stunts as he jumps over cars and into boats, and the fights are plentiful and violent with lots of punching and kicking. Later in the film there's a great set-piece involving a train and a fine car chase just afterwards. The film's bizarre coda sees Milian travelling to New York to apprehend a final criminal, and finding himself accosted by a mentally ill man on the street, leading to much comedy laughs. The way this scene is filmed, I'm inclined to believe that maybe the crazy guy wasn't actually an actor but wandered in off the street! Incredible stuff you won't see anywhere else. Of course the film culminates with more insane humour and a nice beat-down for the villain. A must for Milian fans and those who like laughs with their action, this is an excellently put-together little polizia flick with a great pacing.