Michele Lupo
Bomber

Ciak!SiBirba today screens on Debaser a wonderful comedy from 1982 "Bomber" by Michele Lupo.

For Bud Graziano, known as Bomber (Bud Spencer), a former boxer who mysteriously retired, boxing is now a distant memory, but the past is destined to return when he meets Jerry (Jerry Calà), the owner of a gym full of bizarre and not very skilled "athletes", who asks him to find a boxer to challenge the gym of the American Rosco Dunn. The champion is there, it's Giorgione, a young man unfamiliar with the world of boxing, discovered during a brawl, who after a period of training will manage to defeat the American boxer's fighter.

But Rosco (Kallie Knoetze), who will later be revealed as the reason for Bomber's retirement, is not having it and sets fire to Jerry's gym...

The film is undoubtedly very entertaining, built on simple and straightforward comedy, but it's not just a comedy film. It is also definitely an educational film rich in meaning: crookedness, underhanded tricks, dishonesty can pay off, especially in the short term, but those who are honest, those who play sports with honesty and passion always win in the end. It's a beautiful message for all those who compete at high or low levels: the easiest paths are not always the best ones.

What about the actors? Bud Spencer is just perfect in portraying a grumpy, yet good and protective character towards Giorgione, Jerry Calà is the usual standout and a guarantee of genuine laughter and the other actors (Kallie Knoetze, Gegia, and the cheerful gym) are excellently integrated into the narrative context.

Some scenes? The scene where Bomber steps into the ring against Rosco Dunn to replace Giorgione, previously beaten by the American's thugs, while the chant "Bomber, bomber, bomber!!!" rises from the stands is exhilarating and moving; hilarious is Jerry's double thrill and "thrill with bows" expressed during one of Giorgione's matches, equally amusing is Jerry's risky secret password in a clandestine bet: "finocchio!"

Unforgettable is also the presentation of Jerry's gym athletes to Bomber: fantastic are the caricatures of Prosecco, also known as Sylvester Stangone, and of Piddu from Cagliari, who aspires to the featherweight title.

The soundtrack is spot on too, with the carefree "Fantasy" by Oliver Onions and the beautiful "Thema Bomber" (background to Giorgione's training), perhaps not as good as "Montage Training from Rocky IV," but equally energetic!

Definitely recommended...3,2,1 Ciak!SiBirba.