Colpo grosso alla napoletana

Not a truly funny movie, but it is amusing. Watching Robert Wagner acting tough is very amusing. Of course there is Raquel in all her splendor. Watching her go-go with Edward G. Robinson (!) is worth the price of admission alone. The supporting characters do the best they can with the cartoon characters they are given to enact. And you get to watch Godfrey Cambridge play the violin!

Robert Wagner (with girlfriend Raquel Welch in tow), Godfrey Cambridge, Davy Kaye, and Francesco Mulè kidnap retired gangster Vittorio di Sica and try to ransom him. He's broke. When he can't raise the ransom money, he takes them into partnership to steal $5,000,000 in platinum with a plan by mastermind Edward G. Robinson.

It's one of those sprawling 1960s comedies, this one directed by Ken Annakin, populated by serious actors. Unfortunately, it's not in the least funny. Di Sica shows no sparkle, Wagner is in over his depth, and Miss Welch, who would show great comedy chops in THE THREE MUSKETEERS, is present for eye candy, and she certainly performs in a bikini. The big heist is well done, but that makes this no less a slog.

This sort of movie could work; IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD was carried on the backs of its all-star comic performers, and WHO'S MINDING THE MINT likewise. This one, however, brought no smile to my face.

Mindless, 'wacky' nonsense involving sorry group of thieves in Italy who hope to rob Old World mobster Vittorio De Sica out of 50 grand...unfortunately, he's broke. Plan B has the team plus De Sica and criminal mastermind Edward G. Robinson joining forces to steal five million in platinum ingots from a train. Inane, overlong caper with mostly obnoxious characters (particularly Robert Wagner's, who keeps barking insults like a tough Sammy Davis, Jr.: "I've had it, baby, can you dig it?"). Raquel Welch is bouncy as the one girl in the bunch, and anyone watching will end up just watching her. Ken Annakin directed, without flair, style or humor. *1/2 from ****

I've got as much testosterone as the next bloke, and Raquel Welch at her finest is certainly worth a look; but the fact is that a cardboard cut-out could act better, and an hour and half of Ms. W showing off her credentials does not a movie make.

Considering the cast, it's surprising that it's as bad as it is. I've never been a big fan of Wagner, and his tough guy Harry is about as convincing as a 9-dollar bill. Godfrey Cambridge and Vittorio de Sica, both of whom I usually enjoy, seem to be sleeping through their lines; and as for Edward G...well, I can only assume he was there for the paycheck.

This film is a mess: from non-existent plot, through stop-start action and unfunny script to puerile slapstick and annoying 60's 'caper' music. If it weren't for Miss Welch, I'd have given it a 0.

That said, she is a treat to the eyes - even better than her delicious cameo in 'Bedazzled' - and for that reason alone I gave it a 3.

"The Biggest Bundle of Them All" is a caper film that would have worked much better had the story either been funnier or a serious story. As it is, this hybrid story left me very cold.

When the story begins, a gang of misfits kidnaps a famous mobster (Vittorio De Sica). But they soon learn the man has little money and instead of just releasing him, the kidnap victim gets them to agree to make him the boss and pull a really big heist...$5,000,000! But unfortunately, the gang turn out to be complete idiots...too much so.

The story seemed incomplete. I have no idea why Raquel Welch was there other than to be nice eye candy. I have no idea why several of the gang members were afraid of guns and violence. And, I have no idea why De Sica and Edward G. Robinson would agree to be in a film with such a weak script. Overall, dull and difficult to believe.