A comedy duo based on a clash of personality and physicality which functions a treat.
The miniscule and surreal Rascel is up against the larger than life and down to earth Fabrizi, where the prize is always going to be fun for the audience.
Comedy cinema is full of pairing that at first sight appear preposterous, but which work a treat on-screen. And Italian comedy cinema is so rich in great performers that the potential to contrive memorable comedy duos increases exponentially. This is certainly the case with Renato Rascel and Aldo Fabrizi, two individuals that at first glance appear irreconcilable both in personality and physical size: the former being small and surreal, the latter being larger than life and down to earth. However, opposites do attract and very often produce sparks. Un militare e mezzo is a light-hearted farce, dominated by the amusing verbosity and clashing personalities of the two protagonists. Both actors are expertly versed in the rules of commedia dell’arte, which frequently conceals a sharp aftertaste behind the good-natured façade. They are ably assisted by Massimo Girotti, still in search of his “Terence Hill” identity, and Virna Lisi, who as always leaves us breathless.
Fifty-year-old Carletti returns to Italy from America after thirty years, he finds himself forced to do military service as he is still classified as a draft dodger. Once inside the army barracks, he has to contend with an inflexible sergeant who has no intention of entertaining Carletti’s desire to forego his military duties so that he can concentrate on business affairs. To complicate matters, love starts to blossom between the son and daughter of the two men.
A comedy duo based on a clash of personality and physicality which functions a treat.
The miniscule and surreal Rascel is up against the larger than life and down to earth Fabrizi, where the prize is always going to be fun for the audience.
Comedy cinema is full of pairing that at first sight appear preposterous, but which work a treat on-screen. And Italian comedy cinema is so rich in great performers that the potential to contrive memorable comedy duos increases exponentially. This is certainly the case with Renato Rascel and Aldo Fabrizi, two individuals that at first glance appear irreconcilable both in personality and physical size: the former being small and surreal, the latter being larger than life and down to earth. However, opposites do attract and very often produce sparks. Un militare e mezzo is a light-hearted farce, dominated by the amusing verbosity and clashing personalities of the two protagonists. Both actors are expertly versed in the rules of commedia dell’arte, which frequently conceals a sharp aftertaste behind the good-natured façade. They are ably assisted by Massimo Girotti, still in search of his “Terence Hill” identity, and Virna Lisi, who as always leaves us breathless.
Fifty-year-old Carletti returns to Italy from America after thirty years, he finds himself forced to do military service as he is still classified as a draft dodger. Once inside the army barracks, he has to contend with an inflexible sergeant who has no intention of entertaining Carletti’s desire to forego his military duties so that he can concentrate on business affairs. To complicate matters, love starts to blossom between the son and daughter of the two men.
