Guerra a la italiana

This is a very likable movie, very much UNlike the American sibling "Sergeant Deadhead", which is awful. Although I agree with the opinions of theowinthrop's review, here and there he makes a statement that sounds as if he was watching a different movie. I did not see Keaton figure out how to "fill up the sink by turning on the shower stall"--to the contrary, Keaton never figures out a thing in this scene and simply runs off; I also saw no amphibious jeep-boat in the movie… I suppose theowinthrop saw this film a billion years ago and simply mis-remembers it; and this is too bad because these ideas are really quite good and I regret they are not in the film.

Despite such disappointments, and despite the nagging rumination about what a different movie it would have been if the producer had let Keaton co-write the script, this film has a lot going for it. It moves along fairly briskly (although it could still use a little editing), there are enough visual jokes and action sequences that it doesn't matter if you see it without English subtitles (although it will help if you can find a story breakdown before watching), and having Buster Keaton in it sure doesn't hurt! Although Franco and Ciccio are not really funny, they are fun to watch, and do keep things moving along. I give much credit to the director that Franco & Ciccio, and Keaton are in the film almost continuously, and Keaton seems to have gotten his way with a few gags and the entire washing-his-face routine. And as mentioned by the other reviewer, this movie does have the warmest send-off ever given to an aging comedy icon. The little epilogue is quite funny, too.