Squadra antitruffa

Italian B-movie with the lesser known Corbucci, the writer of many more famous movies.

This is quite tripe, not very funny, and rather badly acted.

Still it entertains to a 5/10, but nothing you really need to see.

I'm ot sure what's the point in Netflix giving such films a new chance. This is as mediocre as can be, and no huge b-film cult potential.

Although I don't really like the combo of violent action and slapstick toilet humor, I must say I'm enjoying these Bruno Corbucci/Tomas Milian collaborations. Even more so, I think they are getting better! "Squadro Antitruffa" was better than "Squadra Antifurto", so that raises my hope for the eight (!) sequels yet to come.

In the previous film, the flamboyant and unorthodox Nico Giraldi (Milian) worked at the anti-theft squad, but now he's promoted to the anti-fraud department. He spends his days chasing after local small-time swindlers, until the British insurance investigator Robert Clayton arrives in Rome with a massive case. The two must work together to uncover the culprits and details of a giant fraud network that caused the prestigious British bank Lloyd of London to go bankrupt.

"Antitruffa" has more action and violent deaths than "Antifurto", the pacing is faster, and the script is a lot cleverer and more convoluted. Most importantly, there's a lot less juvenile and vulgar comedy. Sure, there are still dumb thugs that betray their hiding place by breaking wind and that sort of silly stuff, but at least the slapstick isn't incorporated in the (car)chases or random sub plots anymore. Oh, and Milian also doesn't parade around in his bright red underpants this time! Thomas Milian and the fantastic British actor David Hemmings form a wonderful pair. Especially the scenes taking place in San Francisco, where they rip off stores in imaginative ways to catch the attention of the local mafia, are very entertaining.

In Italy this is considered a B-movie. Anyway it is a sort of thriller, very rich in strange and funny characters, sometimes a little exaggerated. Dialogues are often based on Roman dialect which could be difficult to understand (sometimes it is even for Italians). Among conversations, there's a lot of gags, especially between two main characters, Nico Giraldi and Venticello, representing people coming from the same poor, post-war background. One of them is a policeman (Nico), the other one (Venticello) is a definitely unlucky, ignorant, little thief. Once were friends. In a way, they still are. The main soundtrack theme is obsessive and distressing, creating a suspense that's difficult to imagine. I saw this movie several times, but from time to time I like to watch it again, just for fun. A movie rich of rude dialogs and scenes that make you laugh even before any of the characters has the chance to speak. It could be considered a B-movie but I think that soon it will be re-evaluated.