THE SECOND TRAGIC FANTOZZI (Il Secondo Tragico Fantozzi) (1976) - ♦♦♦♦

Directed by - Luciano Salce

 

Written by - Leonardo Benvenuti, Piero De Bernardi, Luciano Salce, Paolo Villaggio

 

Starring - Paolo Villaggio

 

 

 

"Sequel to the famous Italian franchise based on the unfortunate accountant Fantozzi, representing the plight of the Italian working class squashed under the snobby managerial class and the capitalist system of the economic boom. Its intelligence does not quite equal the predecessor, though the slapstick comedy is heightened and is actually nothing short of satirical genius in many occasions. Through its episodic form, can one really argue against underrated shades of Jaques Tati and even Jean Renoir’s intelligence – at least as far as the witty writing is involved as far as the writer is concerned. We can pinpoint Villaggio, interpreter of Fantozzi and chief screenwriter as well as creator of the franchise, as the main source of bitterness, intelligence and political relevance of the film, which despite being a sequel, is almost just as good as its predecessor White Collar Blues."

 

 

Comedy, Italy