Fracchia la belva umana (1981) User Reviews

Good Italian comedy

[lexva5 · 8/10 · 6 November 2018]

Paolo Villaggio plays a toned down version of Fantozzi in this film about a looser Fracchia working in a chocolate factory and his doppel ganger La Belva Umana (played by the same actor ) who is a crime boss. The police mix them up and comic situations arise As noted elsewhere this comedy has a better story line than the usual Fantozzi films, the timing is perfect and all comic actors do a fine turn without resorting to their usual exaggerated and annoying over the top antics (usually Banfi and Salvi). Anna Mezzomauro is spot on and hilarious as usual, as the totally uninterested egoistic lover and counterpart to Fracchia.

so many laughs

[robertodandi · 9/10 · 28 April 2006]

Villaggio plays Fracchia, nice man cursed by bad luck (very much like Fantozzi). He is like a twin to a dangerous criminal, La Belva Umana, who changes identity with him.

The cast includes other icons of Italian comedy of the 70s and 80s, like Lino Banfi who, Francesco Salvi and Massimo Boldi, all very funny in their respective roles.

But the biggest laughs come in the scenes with Gigi Reder who plays the loving and caring (too much loving and caring) mother of the Belva. In those scenes you see a lot of Italian mother-son relationship, obviously under the lens of great satyr and wit.

Don't miss this movie, together with the first movies on Fantozzi.

A very good example of Italian comedy

[folgore73 · 16 February 2001]

Fracchia la belve umana, not to be confused with the abysmal "Fracchia contro Dracula", is a very good example of Italian comedy. The story line (usually the weakest point in this sort of movies) is somewhat interesting, the acting spot-on and so is the gags' timing.Villaggio is at his best in the dual role of Fracchia/the belva.Fracchia is a toned down Fantozzi, so not such an effort from the man that invented that hilarious character, but the belva is a very different thing.Villaggio manages to portray the belva in a very nasty sort of way.The Genoan actor uses his old stand-up comedy ability (Villaggio used to be very famous in 70's Italian TV for inventing a character called Dr. Franz: a nasty nazi-type of tv presenter that attacks his audience!)to create a very belivable Belva.Then, of course, there is the genius himself, Lino Banfi.Banfi plays the Police inspector that is after the Belva. As usual Banfi is as funny as one can get and his Commissario is the proof,if one was needed, of how this comedy master can make the audience laugh to tears.The scene where the inspector gets his leg pulled (to put it mildly) by a singing waiter,only to reveal his Police badge and get his own back from the rude servant, is side splitting. The movie is funny, entertaining, even bitter in the nasty ending.A sure fire hit with any fan of classic Italian comedy

Funny!!!!

[alessio-6 · 10/10 · 4 April 2000]

Great Movie!!! While the Fantozzi movies don't really have a story, this one has, and Paolo Villaggio is great in playing the double role as Fracchia/Belva Umana. The movie is about Fracchia, an harmless guy who works in a chocolate factory and is arrested by the police because he looks exactly like the most wanted man of the world, the Belva Umana (the Human Beast)... when the Belva comes into Fracchia's house and changes identities with him, the bad luck that always surrounds Fracchia takes titanic dimensions and generates a lot of laughter... one of Villaggio's best.

Almost Perfect -- Just a Little Too Much of a Good Thing!

[JohnHowardReid · 9/10 · 19 March 2013]

). It's certainly good to see all the appreciative reviews for this really inventive comedy which brilliantly combines highly inventive slapstick with no-holds-barred satire. Filmed on an amazingly expensive and expansive scale with more extra players than Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer packed into Quo Vadis, the frenetic pace never lets up from go to whoa. As usual, the stumblebum police (led here by the risibly incompetent Commissario Auricchio, brilliantly played by Lino Banfi) cop most of the laughs, but bank managers, company directors, movie-makers, healthy lifestylers, army generals, and over-possessive mothers (amongst many others) also come in for a drubbing. In the title role, or rather roles, Paolo Villaggio is at the top of his form. He receives great support from Anna Mazzamauro and the guy who plays Banfi's assistant (whose expressions are priceless). Neri Parenti is to be congratulated on his frenetic direction which rarely over-strains credulity – except perhaps in the overlong climax and the somewhat too satirical final scene in which some incompetent heavenly clerk is mercilessly lampooned.

the best Italian Comedy of the 80's!!!

[folippo · 19 October 2000]

the best Italian Comedy of the 80's. A great performance of the protagonists (BANFI and VILLAGGIO, the latter good in both roles) and of some of the characters that then on became among the best comedians of the 90's (BOLDI). Full of rythm, good in action it has a great plot developed in a good location set and well directed. in the future 30 years it will be recorded as the most witty example of cinematography of funny films

arise the vote

[robertofuiano · 10/10 · 14 January 2009]

6.2 votes equal to fragile. And 'now clear that this site has a strong antipathy towards the horror film. If this movie had been in Stephen King would have had more. For me to go to pieces is the comment by Aaron1375. AARON STILL TU, quache distant relative of SHARON? Restless character already seen previously. Why make comparisons between SILENT HILL AND MIRRORS? E '100 times better this movie. Silent hill comes from a video. Do you have anything like the original film plot. There are mediocre film recited by actors who have high ratings as we are beautiful film recited by people less known. This site is so. In this movie there is a coup scene that leaves us with mouth open the others kind of Nicole Kidman. But since this movie and played by Sutherland takes one vote less. that's disgusting. Arise THE VOTE!

Deadlier than Frankenstein, wittier than Gandhi...Fracchia!

[andythepale · 9 July 2002]

I can't point out which one is the best amongst Fracchia, the Belva, the Mamma of the Belva, Auricchio commissar or De Simone ("Maledetto! Da dove esco io?")... If you like Taviani Bros. movies or go wild for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, why are you here? Come on, leave! So? Still here? Go! Now! Well, since you are still with us, sit back, grab some snack and drink, call friends (real ones), unplug telephone line and prepare for 90 mins of pure, italian, 80's style, Fantozzi-like fun!