Johnny Stecchino
Good hearted but not very wordly-wise, Dante is happy driving the school bus for a group of mentally handicapped children, while feeling he is somehow missing out on life and love. So he is very excited when after nearly being knocked down by her car he meets Maria, who seems immediately enamoured of him. He is soon invited to her sumptuous Palermo villa, little suspecting that this is part of a plot. He bears an amazing likeness to Maria's stool-pigeon gangster husband and it would be convenient for them if the mobster, in the shape of Dante, was seen to be dead and buried.
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- Cast：
- Roberto Benigni , Nicoletta Braschi , Paolo Bonacelli , Ivano Marescotti , Loredana Romito , Giulio Donnini , Domenico Minutoli
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Reviews
What a waste of my time!!!
Tied for the best movie I have ever seen
One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Years before his international recognition thanks to "Life is beautiful", Roberto Benigni notched up success after success due to a series of comedies that became remarkably popular in Italy. Johnny Stecchino is one of those forgotten gem and yet the Italian actor was at the peak of his art. Director and double-hatted actor in this comedy based on fruity misunderstandings (go figure!), Benigni leads the film by himself even though his loyal partner Nicoletta Braschi and Paolo Bonacelli help to give vivacity and rhythm to the film. Even if the humour is intentionally irreverent and it leads to absurd situations that draw a smile on the public, Benigni does not resort to mundane humour and he uses a simple misunderstanding with a banana to criticize the Sicilian mafia. A classic movie that, contrary to other comedies from the 90s, has won the race against time since it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2016. Full review on our blog : https://losindiscretos.org/English/johnny-toothpick- 1991-roberto-benigni/
I was expecting much more from this JOHNNY STECCHINO, because I though it was a comedy with Roberto Benigni I watched some years ago in the TV, but it isn't, and to be honest, it's much worse than I could ever expect! Its humor is too dated and it's so incredibly naïf, and ridiculous at parts, that I just can't imagine how can it have a 7/10 score here in IMDb! Of course it has a few funny jokes but they are too little compared to the naïf and ridiculous ones! It also disappointed me because I was expecting something better from an actor like Roberto Benigni. I can't score it better than 2/10!
7/10 I thoroughly recommend this film. Some jokes may go over the head of non-Italian speakers but it shouldn't really ruin your enjoyment of a classic Benigni film. My favourite scene was when "lo zio" (the uncle) was driving Dante back from Palermo train station and explaining the problems of Sicilian life to him - I nearly p*****d myself!
I found this one night on the cable. Recognized Benigni so I decided to try it. I haven't laughed so hard since the first time I saw Peter Sellers in The Party. I love finding little jewels like this. What a pleasant surprise.
