First I watched Smetto Quando Voglio followed by Smetto Quando Voglio: Ad Honorem. I thought there were only two so I made a mistake as Smetto Quando Voglio: Masterclass is between these two movies. But it didn't really matter as every movie has its own story. I thought this movie was the best of the two I watched. A better plot, better acting even though most of the actors played in the two movies, in this movie they just acted better. I wouldn't say there are hilarious scenes in this movie, it doesn't look like a comedy to me, but it's entertaining. After watching two and missing one I don't really need to watch the one that I missed, maybe that says enough.
15 Reviews
Ironic but sad
tecnodata24 July 2021
Others have pointed out at all the different, and actually quite legitimate,
inspirations from Breaking Bad to La banda degli onesti, etc.
What I see here is a caustic condemnation for a system which wastes young brains in a corrupt, inefficient loop of despair.
It is sad but unfortunately true that some are overprotected while others have to struggle endlessly.
The final scene is quite subdued but could have been exploited in a more dramatic way.
While I was reluctant to watch it, fearing the usual unpleasant onslaught of so-called New Italian Comedy, I'm glad I finally did. And can recommend it if you like the bittersweet bite of social critique with a few interspersed gags.
What I see here is a caustic condemnation for a system which wastes young brains in a corrupt, inefficient loop of despair.
It is sad but unfortunately true that some are overprotected while others have to struggle endlessly.
The final scene is quite subdued but could have been exploited in a more dramatic way.
While I was reluctant to watch it, fearing the usual unpleasant onslaught of so-called New Italian Comedy, I'm glad I finally did. And can recommend it if you like the bittersweet bite of social critique with a few interspersed gags.
Fantastic film - Must See!
sinischism9 April 2020
I'll just keep this to a fairly brief synopsis and let you know that the film pretty much has it all. Extremely funny/likeable characters, excellent plot/story-line, a lot of dark and light humour, just enough violence to make things realistic, all mixed together into an extremely enjoyable couple of hours. I didn't want the film to end, to tell you the truth.
What a concept - a bunch of ex-University professors i.e. intellectual nerds - stumble upon a way to make money by inventing a new drug molecule that is not on the illegal list in Italy. Through their combined biological/historical/mathematical knowledge, they happen to make one of the most sought after 'smart drugs' on the market. But of course things get very complicated and go south very quickly.
I'll leave it at that, but you will absolutely love the ride. Again, a brilliant effort and one of the best movies I've seen in a while.
What a concept - a bunch of ex-University professors i.e. intellectual nerds - stumble upon a way to make money by inventing a new drug molecule that is not on the illegal list in Italy. Through their combined biological/historical/mathematical knowledge, they happen to make one of the most sought after 'smart drugs' on the market. But of course things get very complicated and go south very quickly.
I'll leave it at that, but you will absolutely love the ride. Again, a brilliant effort and one of the best movies I've seen in a while.
Funny comedy
sharonrota14 May 2020
Did this come on the wave of Breaking Bad? Yes it did. And still I appreciated the movie and it surely includes some witty parts. The presentation of the characters at the beginning is hilarious, sad and funny at the same time, relatable for a lot of young Italians that found themselves in the same situation in the past 10/20 years.
G I A L L O / Y E L L O W
GarUlfr6 January 2022
Giallo, Flavum, Yellow, Kiiro, Gul, Amarillo, Amarelo, Jaime, Gelb, Zhovtyy, Kítrinos, Nolang, Haluda, Groc, Galben, Peela, Gel.
These are all the languages that I know how to say the color yellow.
It's how I felt watching every single scene of this movie. I don't think 17 words to say Yellow are enough.
Non avevo mai pensato di vedere il biondo Tevere così biondo.
Cheers.
These are all the languages that I know how to say the color yellow.
It's how I felt watching every single scene of this movie. I don't think 17 words to say Yellow are enough.
Non avevo mai pensato di vedere il biondo Tevere così biondo.
Cheers.
Tries but fails to be the Italian Breaking Bad
dierregi24 December 2020
Shot with an annoying, acid and saturated photography the movie tells the story of a bunch of overqualified scholars, unemployed or stuck in menial jobs, who decide to produce and sell a new drug.
The gang leader is Pietro, played by an actor with the physique du role and some acting chops. There are too many people in the rest of the gang to get decent background stories.
The only female role is Pietro's girlfriend. Shrill, shrewish and annoying - just like and even worse than Skylar - Giulia would turn any man into a misogynist.
It's an entertaining story that doesn't quite manage to maintain credibility to the end, turning into a half baked movie. With slightly less comedy and a touch more grit, it would have been more interesting.
The gang leader is Pietro, played by an actor with the physique du role and some acting chops. There are too many people in the rest of the gang to get decent background stories.
The only female role is Pietro's girlfriend. Shrill, shrewish and annoying - just like and even worse than Skylar - Giulia would turn any man into a misogynist.
It's an entertaining story that doesn't quite manage to maintain credibility to the end, turning into a half baked movie. With slightly less comedy and a touch more grit, it would have been more interesting.
Best Italian comedy of the last 5 years
spiritfadeout12 March 2014
Finally an Italian comedy that eschews the stylistic elements that have been imposed in recent years with the so-called "Cinepanettoni"! This movie works so well because of many factors: it makes you laugh, has a cast in a state of grace, it has a nearly flawless script, it's well directed and, unusual for an Italian comedy, it's very close to the technical quality standards of international movies. Also, as all good comedies should do, the movie addresses the contemporary issue of young people who, despite being far too skilled, are not able to make a living because of the scarcity of opportunities. Not bad for a first-time director!
a little bitta italiano...
ops-5253519 September 2021
Drug comedy, with ''breaking bad'' as the thin red line is whats within this flick. Taliano est una linguista forza a hyperforte, and its parlate so fast that even reading the cc's and spending a look at the actors are quite difficult, but its a funny setup, by well known actors for those who are into neoitalian film. So your in for at least a giggle and maybe a good laugh like the grumpy old man did.
Surprisingly funny and thought provoking
bradamante_149 January 2015
This must be the best Italian comedy of the last few years... Authentic and thought-provoking portrait of the socioeconomic impasse of that wonderful country and its newest generation of "adults". Hysterical gags and great acting. At long last, Italy reconnects with its greatest form of art - laughing at its own miseries and the whimsical ways they require to be overcome. "L'arte di arrangiarsi" (the art of getting by) over a draconian, timeless, ever-obstructing, complacently ignorant State will never cease to gift every generation with the Italian art of David and Goliath storytelling. Brilliant script, great technical quality..a must see!
Deliberate dependence
gabriarcuri24 March 2023
A film that innovates, finally after stale years, the Italian comedy genre, bringing into focus the up-to-date themes of drugs and the alleged uselessness of a college degree in Italy.
A group of old friends, former university professors, unite to produce a new type of legal drug: each one, with his knowledge, contributes to the success of the plan; carried out, it turns their boring lives around out of the blue.
Fast-paced and enjoyable, ''Smetto quando voglio'' succeeds, with an exceptional cast, in the arduous task of reconciling the crime and comedy genres, without coming across as the usual trash "cinepanettone". However, there is no shortage of clichés, the music is not the best and in the end the plot is not that innovative, leaving aside the aforementioned premise.
It remains a great film, which is quickly watched and which entertains and amuses, with a project that should definitely be seen more in Italy.
A group of old friends, former university professors, unite to produce a new type of legal drug: each one, with his knowledge, contributes to the success of the plan; carried out, it turns their boring lives around out of the blue.
Fast-paced and enjoyable, ''Smetto quando voglio'' succeeds, with an exceptional cast, in the arduous task of reconciling the crime and comedy genres, without coming across as the usual trash "cinepanettone". However, there is no shortage of clichés, the music is not the best and in the end the plot is not that innovative, leaving aside the aforementioned premise.
It remains a great film, which is quickly watched and which entertains and amuses, with a project that should definitely be seen more in Italy.
Breaking Bad Italian style
nmegahey27 January 2018
The Italian equivalent of Breaking Bad is not surprisingly somewhat more light-hearted and funny, the film's popular success seeing it nominated for 10 David Di Donatello awards. Smetto Quando Voglio (I Can Quit Anytime I Want) stars Edoardo Leo as Pietro, a professor of molecular biology who is finding that his work is not really being valued at the college he teaches. He has a terrific new research thesis, potentially Nobel prize winning material, but no-one even understands it, much less respects his work.
More importantly, as far as his wife is concerned, all his research doesn't pay the mounting bills, so Pietro hasn't the heart to tell her that he is in danger of losing his job. Even the private tutoring isn't paying, his students preferring to spend huge amounts of money on recreational drugs; expensive drugs that are cheap to make. Bing! Cheap and easy to make for a professor in molecular biology, particularly one who has just developed a new theoretical program that can be tweaked to be a psychotropic substance that isn't on the list of illegal substances because it doesn't exist yet.
Gathering the best minds of academia behind it - all former colleagues of Pietro who have been left struggling in badly paid manual labour jobs - not only is it going to be the best drug ever, it's going to be the best organised operation ever. As long as they can keep from attracting the attentions of the local mafia, as long as Pietro's wife doesn't find out what he is doing and as long as all the money and hookers that come as part of the package don't impinge on the success of their operation. Obviously that's exactly what happens, but luckily they can give it up anytime they want...
Smetto Quando Voglio succeeds partly because it has a basis in the reality that reflects the problems of funding and the value given to the academic professions, and the difficulty it has competing when students have other 'outside interests', but it mainly works because it is quite funny. It's largely a situational comedy, the main joke being the idea of a bunch of eggheads including an archaeologist, a cultural anthropologist, an economist and a molecular biologist, having to apply their learning to being petrol pump attendants or a dishwasher in a restaurant kitchen, and then becoming drug kingpins who rob pharmacies with guns from the Napoleonic wars.
The humour is light-hearted then, and there's nothing too flash about the script or the direction, although the high-saturation luminous colour scheme does give the film a nice contemporary feel that just makes the drug-running professors look even more out of place in the criminal underworld. It's the performances that keep it running, headed up by Edoardo Leo, who would go on to direct his own version of an unlikely team setting themselves up in business against the mob in Noi e la Giulia in 2015.
More importantly, as far as his wife is concerned, all his research doesn't pay the mounting bills, so Pietro hasn't the heart to tell her that he is in danger of losing his job. Even the private tutoring isn't paying, his students preferring to spend huge amounts of money on recreational drugs; expensive drugs that are cheap to make. Bing! Cheap and easy to make for a professor in molecular biology, particularly one who has just developed a new theoretical program that can be tweaked to be a psychotropic substance that isn't on the list of illegal substances because it doesn't exist yet.
Gathering the best minds of academia behind it - all former colleagues of Pietro who have been left struggling in badly paid manual labour jobs - not only is it going to be the best drug ever, it's going to be the best organised operation ever. As long as they can keep from attracting the attentions of the local mafia, as long as Pietro's wife doesn't find out what he is doing and as long as all the money and hookers that come as part of the package don't impinge on the success of their operation. Obviously that's exactly what happens, but luckily they can give it up anytime they want...
Smetto Quando Voglio succeeds partly because it has a basis in the reality that reflects the problems of funding and the value given to the academic professions, and the difficulty it has competing when students have other 'outside interests', but it mainly works because it is quite funny. It's largely a situational comedy, the main joke being the idea of a bunch of eggheads including an archaeologist, a cultural anthropologist, an economist and a molecular biologist, having to apply their learning to being petrol pump attendants or a dishwasher in a restaurant kitchen, and then becoming drug kingpins who rob pharmacies with guns from the Napoleonic wars.
The humour is light-hearted then, and there's nothing too flash about the script or the direction, although the high-saturation luminous colour scheme does give the film a nice contemporary feel that just makes the drug-running professors look even more out of place in the criminal underworld. It's the performances that keep it running, headed up by Edoardo Leo, who would go on to direct his own version of an unlikely team setting themselves up in business against the mob in Noi e la Giulia in 2015.
Breaking Bad meets Bid Deal on Madonna St.: very uneven
vostf25 August 2014
This is the same premise as Breaking Bad (or Weeds), boasting an effective social commentary, only to wrap it all in a comedy. This simple pitch says everything about its big flaw: it wants to have a smart and serious basis but also be a light comedy about aloof kingpins.
From the very start there is a rhythm issue. It takes too long to get to the nitty-gritty. In the end the movie would greatly benefit from a 20 minutes trim (to bring it closer to the ideal comedy length of 85min). The main character is fine though, we want to root for him and his life is adequately depicted. But soon after he gathers his team of aloof scholars the movie keeps stepping back and forth between social commentary and dimwitted comedy.
From there the main character gets lost in the mix and the script complacently deals a couple of tired jokes about our clueless free-riding kingpins. Then they just patch a sorry ending to close the whole venture, without style, without flair. The exact opposite of the joyful social satire advertised. Actually snooty critics claim 'I Soliti Ignoti' (Big Deal on Madonna Street) is the comedic reference whereas it ends up much closer to The Hangover...
Very disappointing indeed, although some parts ring true thanks to a fine cast. Obviously they didn't really know which story they were going to tell.
From the very start there is a rhythm issue. It takes too long to get to the nitty-gritty. In the end the movie would greatly benefit from a 20 minutes trim (to bring it closer to the ideal comedy length of 85min). The main character is fine though, we want to root for him and his life is adequately depicted. But soon after he gathers his team of aloof scholars the movie keeps stepping back and forth between social commentary and dimwitted comedy.
From there the main character gets lost in the mix and the script complacently deals a couple of tired jokes about our clueless free-riding kingpins. Then they just patch a sorry ending to close the whole venture, without style, without flair. The exact opposite of the joyful social satire advertised. Actually snooty critics claim 'I Soliti Ignoti' (Big Deal on Madonna Street) is the comedic reference whereas it ends up much closer to The Hangover...
Very disappointing indeed, although some parts ring true thanks to a fine cast. Obviously they didn't really know which story they were going to tell.
Italian Comedy with International Standards!
cooolcoach6 October 2022
It is a italian style comedy, but the quality is much higher than recent italian comedies. It is a smart movie, well conceived in everything, in the cast, in the ideas of the script, in the characters, and it is greatly enhanced from a nice color grading (post production work) and the choice of the songs. It describes perfectly the situations of thousands of graduated and Post doctorates who struggle in life, in a caricatural way, the situation of work in Italy, but these thematic is treated in a funny and light way. It is a movie that let you more laughing than thinking. I suggest to watch also the following movies, of this Trilogy very well conceived and done.
amazing fresh comedy
lruella13 February 2019
This is an amazing and super funny Italian comedy. I am very hard to please and recently I just could not bear the terrible drop in the quality of overall movies. This one is clever, original, funny, incredibly paced, well filmed and with an amazing script.
It's the first one in a trilogy, so don't miss out also the other 2 chapters.
It's the first one in a trilogy, so don't miss out also the other 2 chapters.
Italian "Breaking Bad"?
x_manicure_x14 August 2021
This is undoubtedly the Italian parody "Breaking Bad," "The Hangover", etc., as well as a singular combination of classic Italian humor with themes and situations that belong to American cinema and television. It might be above the average of recent Italian comedies, but still, most jokes fell flat or have been already seen billions of times elsewhere. It's not terrible though. The ugly photography surely doesn't help to appreciate it - why did they dye everything green?
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