Main Cast: Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi, Paolo Bonacelli, Franco Volpi
Release Year: 1991
Country: IT
Run Time: 100 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Comedian Roberto Benigni wrote and directed this Italian farce, in which he stars as Dante, a bus driver who is the exact double of the infamous gangster Johnny Toothpick (Benigni again). After Dante meets Johnny's girlfriend Maria (Nicoletta Braschi), he travels to her Palermo villa, where it quickly becomes apparent that Maria is setting up Dante to take the fall for Johnny's illicit behavior. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide
Review
One of the most highest-grossing films of all time at the Italian box office, Johnny Stecchino is a comedy showcase for writer/director/star Roberto Benigni. Reflecting the antics of American lunkhead comedians from Jerry Lewis to Hey Vern! It's Ernest, Benigni bumbles his way through this movie without any idea that every other character assumes he is really a gangster. Rather than portraying an enjoyable eccentric side character, as he has in Jim Jarmusch's movies, here he gets full reign to overindulge in a total slapstick farce. This works to his advantage among fans in Italy, but for many others, his nonstop gags can become a bit tiresome. Adhering to most of the conventions of the screwball comedy, Johnny Stecchino is a treasure for Benigni fans and just goofy fun for everyone else. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Dante (Roberto Benigni) is a hapless man who drives a school bus for a special school. One night, he accidentally meets Maria (Nicoletta Braschi), an attractive and wealthy woman from Palermo, Sicily with whom he immediately falls in love. Soon Dante is lured by Maria into unwittingly impersonating famous mobster Johnny Stecchino, Maria's husband, with whom he shares an uncanny resemblance. Meanwhile, the real Stecchino (also played by Benigni) is forced to hide in his home after having testified against several of the local Mafia leaders. Maria's plan is to have Dante mistaken for Johnny, publicly murdered by the Mafia, and buried in place of her husband, after which they can both escape to Argentina.
Roberto Benigni played both Johnny Stecchino and Dante without appearing in the same scene but in the wardrobe scene, where Dante opens the wardrobe and finds Johnny, who has to repeat all his moves (they used a mirror)
Berlinguer: I Love You (1977) (with Giuseppe Bertolucci) ·Seeking Asylum (1979) (with Gérard Brach and Marco Ferreri) ·Tutto Benigni (1983) (with Giuseppe Bertolucci)
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