Luciano Salce
Fantozzi

The review of this film starts with a question.., why are great talents, great myths, and great cinematic legends glorified only after their death? The answer is very simple, it's all about money! As long as a legend is still alive, rich, and famous.. it's a bit difficult for them to be recognized for their merits (they take all the money), but then.. when they die.. that glorification begins like "He was a genius, he was one of the greatest" which makes the production companies earn so much as they start marketing everything related to the character (even his underwear!). Let's start with Antonio De Curtis, known as Totò. When he was alive, he was criticized by EVERYONE, judged a buffoon, a family clown, a court jester for bored housewives, but then.. after he died.. "the prince of laughter" "the genius", even Alberto Sordi sparked discussions among critics.. but then... everyone was silent! Now he is untouchable! And Franco Franchi? Defined as a trash puppet for the lower plebs, after his death, he was instead defined as a genius on par with Totò!

But why do they all have to die to be recognized for their worth? Enough with this story.

Paolo Villaggio is still alive, and he is a Genius! On par with Totò! In fact.. after De Curtis, Villaggio represents the last mask in Italy! What differentiates him from the others is the character. Sordi portrayed the average Italian, Totò was the perfect caricature of the Italian, but Villaggio created a whole universe, he created the mask of the subordinate man, the ultimate loser, the slave of the system, he invented Fantozzi! The last great invention of Italian cinema, still unsurpassed today.

The first film in the series is not just a collection of gags to laugh at, it's a real CINEMATIC WORLD; the wrong use of subjunctives and verbs has become part of the Italian vocabulary, "venghi" "Vadino" "Vadi" are still pronounced naturally by many today. Words like "mega director galattico" "Salivazione azzerata, mani spugnate" are now part of world cinema history! Fantozzi is known worldwide, the word "Fantozziano" ended up in the Italian language dictionary, and millions of Italians saw themselves in the role of accountant Ugo, the portrait of the megacorporation of the 70s/80s described by Villaggio almost faithfully represents (albeit in a paradoxical way) the true reality of the employees of the time (and let's be honest.. the mega-directors still subjugate us!).

Fantozzi is like Mickey Mouse, like E.T., like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, he's a character that has been part of our culture since we were children and will never leave it, all of us felt like Fantozzi at school when we went for oral exams or when the bully would steal our snack, it's no longer about an actor's interpretation in cinema, but a true cultural character. And are we going to wait for Villaggio's death to recognize these "megagalactic" merits? We truly are Italian!

"Fantozzi" by Luciano Salce is the debut film, the presentation of the character, the beginning of the catchphrases, the start of a misadventure that lasted for over 30 years. Salce’s direction is effective, his social satire combined with Villaggio’s character creates a perfect mix, never again reached. Sure.. it is not a film that shines for technique, the shots and editing, quite trashy, leave a lot to be desired. But the film stands out above all on Villaggio's ideas and catchphrases, there’s not a single gag that doesn't succeed.

Fantozzi in cinemas elicited the same reactions as the film "The Exorcist" at the time of its release. While Friedkin's film caused panic among people in theaters (ambulances parked outside, illnesses in the theater, people running out of the room in a panic) Fantozzi did the opposite, people felt unwell.. from laughing! People bent over, unable to catch their breath, (my father told me that during the scene where Filini hits Fantozzi's finger with the hammer twice in the German campsite, people in the theater stood up and bent over holding their stomachs from laughing too much!!), tell me if TODAY there is still a movie in the theater that can literally make you wet yourself from laughter! And with whom? With Boldi, de Sica, and Pieraccioni?

Paolo Villaggio marked an era, he invented a cinematic genre, a historical character, but unfortunately, as often happens.. he got trapped in it. The Fantozzis were great up to the fourth chapter, but also "Fantozzi in paradise" was excellent, I think that the Fantozzi films, starting from the third, were the only good thing Neri Parenti did (thanks to the work ready that Salce left him).

"Fantozzi 2000 la clonazione" is probably the worst comedy film of the century!

"The second tragic Fantozzi" remains the best.

What I blame Villaggio for are his artistic choices, from the banal films paired with Boldi and Banfi, (they cannot be compared! Banfi is a myth of trashy sexy comedy, Villaggio is a milestone of Italian cinema), to unfortunate choices with the director who, after the Fantozzi series, almost artistically killed him, Neri Parenti. But on the other hand, he also had to work. Only the two legendary films on Fracchia are saved.

The first Fantozzi is, and will always remain an unforgettable chapter of our cinema, which one day our great-grandchildren will have to study in schools as a cultural subject.

Honor to Villaggio.

ALIVE!