Freaks Out

It reminded me of what happened with Benigni's Pinocchio. Mainetti made us wait almost six years for his "cinecomic". He wants to repeat the call of his previous experiment. He opens with a dazzling incipit. Then almost everything derails. The increase in the means available - which prevented the immediate release in streaming - had to guarantee even more visionary than his last test. Unfortunately, the only revelation worthy of the other undertaking consists in the choice of the protagonist. There was Ilenia Pastorelli, here is the very young Aurora Giovinazzo. So far we are. Then, between a few empty passages and a smashing epilogue (reminiscent of the own goal of the final battle in the dark in the Games of Thrones) one gets more and more the impression of witnessing a long drawn episode of a fantasy TV series. It is recognized the good will to want to be different, at least in intent, from the Italian cinema of recent seasons. At the same time, by raising the bar of ambition, any appeal that could become cult again is inhibited: on this occasion, there is some politically incorrect idea or some Chaplinian tenderness but it is not enough to give freshness to Italian popular cinema. The "coming to age" journey of his gentle misfits - much more successful in Jeeg Robot - this time does not compete in depth with his obvious models (X-men, Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad). Claudio Santamaria, now elected as the director's alter-ego, is masked in Chewbacca style, despite being the only star of appeal (together, perhaps, with Giorgio Tirabassi). One wonders why Luca Marinelli has not returned as the villain.

WWII is the backdrop for Matilde and her 3 friends that all have special abilities. It's parts Greatest Showman, Xmen, and Schindler's List all in one - and somehow it works.

Im not going to masquerade as some Hollywood critic reviewing on here like a lot of folks. But...just... wow, by far the most unique & electic story line I've ever seen. Interesting two hours in front of my tv.

What Mainetti was aiming to do was probably a bit too ambitious for the budget of the movie, you can see that mainly in the vfx, however the movie is able to appear realistic, thanks to the folk substrate of the characters and locations. A note of credit goes to Aurora Giovinazzo, who plays Matilde, for her great performance, surely a good discovery for the italian cinema. Indeed a really well made movie for the italian and european scene, which can aspire to be seen overseas.

A really good movie that was a bit too long towards the end. 15 minutes less to the film not harmed. Above all, you have to mention the incredibly well-made special effects at this point! There was only one scene where the Uncanny Valley started. I could name dozens of new films, especially from Hollywood, which have a higher budget and worse effects. The whole topic around the Nazis is also fully covered from beginning to end, and I mean that in a positive and funny sense. The story itself is not insanely special, but manages to entertain. I give the film 7/10 stars and can recommend it well.