June 11, 2026

It's the summer of 1946 and "Paolo" (Dino Abbrescia) and his best pal "Vitino" (Totò Onnis) are forever reliving their recent wartime experiences where one was wounded in the leg and wants a pension and the other is considered - even by his wife - to be a workshy loafer. In typical Italian style, their arguments always get louder and louder before the table is upturned and there is some chest-thumping before their children tell them all to pipe d… read the rest.

It's the summer of 1946 and "Paolo" (Dino Abbrescia) and his best pal "Vitino" (Totò Onnis) are forever reliving their recent wartime experiences where one was wounded in the leg and wants a pension and the other is considered - even by his wife - to be a workshy loafer. In typical Italian style, their arguments always get louder and louder before the table is upturned and there is some chest-thumping before their children tell them all to pipe down so they can enjoy their siestas. Their faux-animosity spreads to their kids as they play their own war games with a toy rifle that soon gets the entire community into trouble with the real military police and a few scenes that remind us all that many of the Allied soldiers after the end of WWII were barely out of their teens, themselves. There is a serious point to be made here about yesterday's fascista being tomorrow's communists but that is disguised well in a maelstrom of comedy stroppery, a bit of sexist stereotyping and plenty of mischief. On the downside, the production has a bit of the television look to it but this is still an enjoyable romp that reminded me a little of the BBCs "'Allo 'Allo". Good fun.

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