Metti la nonna in freezer

Having seen hundreds of Italian films during the pandemic, most being from the past decade, I can say that this is one that hits the target within its own, moderate scope.

Though I watched it several months ago, felt the need to put a review only now because today on Rai News they were talking about one similar incident in which a mid-aged man had kept his mom buried into the wall of his apartment for two years, just to keep collecting her retirement payments.

So, the basic premise of the film is not bogus at all. There really are people who pull this kind of scheme.

The story is well put together as we get convinced enough by the protagonist's (the breathtaking Miriam Leone) motivation for placing the fresh corpse of her grandma into the freezer.

On the other end of the lever, we have an expert cop (Fabio De Luigi) that busts freak frauds of many sorts, providing us with quite a lot of visually and physically fun scenes. (One even reminded me of the legendary "L'armate di Brancaleone").

The "eternally single" cop is persuaded by his peers to go chase this gal whom he had met on the scene of an irrelevant crime. And so he does! But unbeknownst to him, the young woman believes she is his target not for private reasons, but for what she is hiding in the freezer!

How great is this!

Had it been worked on more, it could even come close to the pedestal on which will stay forever "There Is Something About Mary".

Well, hard to say it's THAT good, but thankfully it doesn't drag either, and the various storylines intersect quite smartly.

Now, this is one among dozens of films that aim to entertain the general public without creating marvels. So, it should be evaluated in the light of what it aims to do. Could have been a bit better, maybe even better paced, but well, it not only serves as passtime, but also remains momorable thanks to its very simple and interesting subject matter.

One more thing: The opening scene was really strange and I am not sure if it harms the movie in some way or helps build its wilder side. Because in this scene, our protagonist (a professional restorator of artwork) is seen in a museum pointing spray paint at a masterpiece, threatening the authorities that she'd spray it unless the piled up debts are paid to her. Ooops! What a daring thing to do! By itself, looks like a serious crime. However, this is not made an issue as the actual theme develops. One can both love how recklessly they opened the movie, or feel uncomfortable with how letting that one remain loose reflects on the overall level of realism (or lack thereof) in the following scenes.

Have I told that Miriam Leone is breathtaking?

Yeah, I have...

In an anticipation that promised humor and brilliance, "Metti la Nonna in Freezer" disappoints, showing an inability to maintain coherence and an inadvertently confusing conclusion. Despite the undeniable chemistry among the main actors, the film suffers from a screenplay that attempts to "stretch the soup" with tedious subplots. The young and talented Miriam Leone, in the role of the struggling restorer, tries to breathe life into a complex character, but the plot fails to hold up. The Marshal of the Financial Guard played by Fabio De Luigi, although impeccable in his comedic role, cannot compensate for the weakness of the screenplay. The female component of the cast offers comedic moments, but the plot gets lost in improbable arguments, resulting in being tiresome and unconvincing. Barbara Bouchet's cameo, though surprising for her acting ease, is short and not enough to lift the film. The film's rhythm is disturbed by predictable sub-stories. Despite some interesting insights into everyday Italian life, the black comedy fails to stand out in the national cinematic landscape. The initial idea, albeit promising, gets diluted in a confused and underdeveloped plot."Metti la Nonna in Freezer" is a comedy without infamy or praise, failing to evoke laughter or leave a lasting impression. The talented actors try to lift the film, but the lightweight screenplay and overly simplified ending limit its comedic effectiveness. A missed opportunity for the directing duo Fontana and Stasi, who, despite the good cast, fail to thaw the comedic potential of the plot.

This movie has a little of everything, comedy, drama and romantic scenes! Maybe the plot isn't too through or developed but the movie got me focused and entertained the complete duration of the film. You should really watch it!

I usually don't like original Italian movies, but I liked this comedy. I loved how some scenes were shot, like the one when they all got drunk. This is a crime some people actualy pulled off in real life.

I watched it by accident, on TV, and was pleasantly surprised by how funny and enjoyable this comedy is. It's very well written, acted and shot. Highly recommended.