Three Men and a Leg (1997) User Reviews

The fact this comedy isn't more widely known annoys me

[peapulation · 7/10 · 28 April 2008]

Fact: Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo should be more widely known, simply because they deserve to be. They are not only funny, but also make the kind of national humor that could be imported. Perhaps this one is their best, and definitely would have deserved an Oscar nomination. The fact they didn't get one is mostly because it was marketed badly, and no one really believed that these three guys actually would have been able to create such a funny but also deeply involving comedy.

There's more to this film than what meets the eye. Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo are three friends that are being exploited by their boss, who is also their father in law. Giacomo in fact is about to marry the last daughter available, because Aldo and Giovanni have already married the other two. Truth is that they have lost all their self confidence, and think that because they reached a certain age, they have to start a family and have a safe economic situation, even though this is making them deeply unhappy.

The ending is liberatingly hopeful. But it's the way from Milan to Gallipoli that will show them and make them think. Sprinkled by many witty comedic sketches, they never appear to be out of place and fit in perfectly with the movie. It seems that whenever these three are on a car together, they can create comedy magic. But somewhere in between, they even leave room for sighs of pity, and their characters are so likable that the film really flies through.

Please, spare an hour and a half to see this. You will want to see more from them, and you will not be disappointed. The rest of their resume involves witty comedy with a shocking and grotesque ending "Cosi' E' La Vita" (That's Life). A rom-com about misunderstanding and the never ending actor's dream "Chiedimi se sono Felice" (Ask If I'm Happy).

Please, oh, please, producers worldwide. Take some notice of Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo. Their films match the quality of charming American independent comedies as "Little miss Sunshine", "Juno" and "The Squid an the Whale". In fact, if you have seen these and liked them, watch Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo, and you will not be disappointed! WATCH FOR THE MOMENT...when Giovanni and Giacomo on the front seats pick out a song to listen to. Hilarious!

A very sunny, feel good movie

[boss-45 · 9/10 · 20 June 2005]

As a recent Italian emigrant, I was able to fully enjoy this wonderful, sunny movie that has brought back to mind a lot of innuendos and down-to-earth jokes that, certainly, are not meant to be racist: quite the opposite, actually: every joke is firmly tongue-in-cheek.

The authors-actors also dare to play themselves, using their real names: this allows them to freely play with several styles of direction, always from their point of view, which somebody may define iconoclastic. The truth - in my personal opinion - is that they have full confidence in their own sense of humour and thus they have created a homage to more serious movie genres - from neorealism, to westerns, to 50's horror.

This is like Carl Barks when painting with oil: using a formal medium to portray less serious things.

defies expectations

[beatabeatrix · 8/10 · 11 October 2006]

What a surprise - a genuinely funny movie to come out of Italy. Reluctantly, I watched this thinking it would be your average ho hum euro comedy, but I was totally taken aback at how laugh out loud funny this is. The three leads, Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo remind me of the Marx brothers in their timing and togetherness. Even if you don't understand Italian you will enjoy it - especially the opening sequence, Killer, which should be renowned as a classic globally. The spoof horror Gothic film is also a surprise with a southern Italian Dracula comes upon a tavern occupied by "Transylvanian Leaguists", who decide that he's not one of them (inspired in how it plays upon the notion of small town persecution of the monster in horror flicks). The three comedians are given excellent support by the cute Marina Massironi as Chiara, whom they meet along the way.

You'll laugh your tits off.

[Rahuta · 10 September 2003]

I saw this movie by accident, the local news paper made a mistake in the listings but by the time my two mates and I had driven out, found a park and walked to the movie theatre we didn't want to turn around and go home without watching anything. Despite the fact that the three of us would struggle to turn up a single Italian word between us we all laughed ourselves silly through the subtitles and decided that this movie is an absolute ripsnorter of a film that any aspiring comedy writer can and should learn from.

One of the funniest films ever!

[naxash · 10/10 · 27 August 1999]

Aldo, Giacomo and Giovanni have to deliver an original Garpetz to a Maffia boss who is gonna be the father-in-law of one of the guys. A Garpetz? Garpetz is a famous sculptor...a VERY funny road movie with several intermezzi develops. At one time, Aldo, the Southern Italian, has a hilarious dream in which he is Dracula and the other guys are Northern Italian Leghisti (separatists). In the beginning, there is a meta-film in which Pulp Fiction is satirized. And there's also a love story in the mix: Giacomo falls in love with Chiara, who sees the Garpetz (it's a leg out of wood, the boss says: "My carpenter could've made it better!")and says: "Ma questo e' un Garpetz!" ("But this is a Garpetz!")The guys wonder: how did she find out? Until Giovanni comes up with the solution: "Se e' un Garpetz, e' una merda!" Don't miss this movie....neo-realism, too, is burlesqued in another meta-film....

The funniest, full of unspotted details

[gasperma · 10/10 · 7 October 2003]

One evening I had nothing to do and the worse thing there was nothing on TV but one Italian movie ...

I love Italy and their ways. The three of them are just awesome and I agree with previous comments, that if you don't know nothing about Italy it will be very hard for you to get the joke. But if a man saw Godfathers, Robert de Niro movies, some european or better non Hollywood production it shouldn't be the problem.

AYEYE BRAZZO ...

Nevertheless, 10 of 10 points for the Gamba.

This was hillarious

[jamigre · 7/10 · 10 June 2003]

From the beggining the movie takes a cooky turn with and "Italian" explanation of the JFK murder, follwed by humour that is fun, witty, and at times charming. Though I do not recommend this film to people who have not been exposed to italian culture, and speak the language, the film itslef is a breath of fresh air to come out of Italy.

A very good debut for Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo

[priapo · 10/10 · 27 July 2000]

Nobody thought the first film of the three comedians could be so amusing and technically good. Nobody thought three comedians coming from TV can make film so well. In my opinion this film reaches peaks that remind Tarantino (!).

If we add to this that the humor of this trio is irresistible we have one of the greatest Italian films of '90s. I love it.

An exhilarating experience.

[Irbis · 8/10 · 13 February 2000]

The three (four with Mrs. Massironi) best actor-comedians in the Italian performing arts scene decided to make a movie. And it is a blessing. It is just as if you were at one of their live performances: exhilarating. It almost work as a movie (and not only as an excuse for the trio to perform), and the additional possibilities of the new media are used (along with their performance and excellent lines) to create more and more fun.

A rare comic gem that can stand the time!

[johnny-77589 · 9/10 · 14 May 2019]

Being an italian, often very critical of italian cinema, I must admit that it annoys me to recognize that this movie is absolutely awesome. Each scene, even taken individually, is unforgettable. Despite its simplicity, it is always very intelligent and fun, and perfectly characterizes the best and the worst of Italianness. Even if it has his years now, it's always incredibly current and hilarious. I could be considered a heretic, but I think it is one of the most successful films of its kind, certainly one of the best of the last 30 years, if not always. Many Italians should see it again and again, maybe they will learn something eventually...

WONDERFUL!

[vector_raster · 25 June 2002]

It's a rare kind of humor, very nice! The problem is that is just in Italian, and even if it was in english it's not possible to taste Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo's speeches in other languages than their own ones. :)

It is a very funny movie

[fiore-3 · 10/10 · 13 December 1998]

I saw it for more then 5 times. I enjoy it every time. I can not wait till the new film will be released "così è la vita". A nice gift for Christmas.

This is by far the funniest movie ever produced

[stefanocohen · 10/10 · 27 April 2020]

I think I watched this mocie more than 100 times, and every time I see it I I laugh as it was the first time. It's absolutely perfect in every detail. Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo depict everyday's life scenes with such a comic and natural emphasis that it will be hardly imitated in future comic movies, at leas in Italy. Thay created a movie that inspired Italian comic gestures for two decades and they still continue their legacy. I could continue to talk about this movie for hours and hours. It deserved to be recognized worldwide, such a comic acting belongs to one of things I am mostly proud of my country. Thank you Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo for creating such a masterpiece in the Italian cinematographic landscape!

A masterpiece of Italian comedy, definitely deserves more credit

[sharonrota · 9/10 · 14 May 2020]

This movie is not pretentious and that's why it was never consider a masterpiece of Italian cinema, but actually it is. It's entertaining from beginning to end, really great actors, some scenes (actually 3/4 of the movie) entered the collective memory of Italy, it plays with Italian stereotypes without being offensive, engrossing or ridiculous. It seems like a simple movie but it's full of references to other movies, art, Italian culture and politics. Like some old Italian comedy masterpieces, it manages to deliver a sad story with really deep moments and being funny from beginning to end. I do believe it's the most influential moment of Italian comedy from the 90s till now, and unfortunately nobody else managed to deliver a movie so simple, smart and funny since then. If you are not Italian, maybe you'll find some moments difficult to understand, but give it a try, especially if you are studying Italy related things.

Hilarious movie if you have an understanding of the culture and understand the language!

[lstar99 · 28 June 2003]

This movie was a hilarious movie if you understand the Italian language and culture! If you are merely watching it and relying on the subtitles you will not find it as funny since a lot is lost in the translation. I sat watching this movie with some friends and I was howling! They were sitting there just starring at me wondering what I found so funny. The difference between them and I....I understand the language and they don't! So if you have a friend that can translate it for you correctly then I say go for it, you will find that you will get some laughs in! The actors chosen to play each role were a good choice.....they all feed off of each other and this makes the movie even more better.

So if you have an understanding of the language then this is a funny movie to watch!