The Monster (1994)

I heard of this movie by Roberto Begnini some time ago, and after reading reviews of it who said it was a very good comedy, I decided to buy it. I watched it one evening and then, I got what I wanted out of it. I simply LOVED it. It is what they say; Begnini is a master of comedy, one of those not too many comedians who makes us laugh with our hearts instead of with our heads.The plot is simple: it centers around a man named Loris(Begnini), who is innocently suspected of being ''The monster'', a serial killer who brutally rapes and murders women around Rome, after he accidentally attacks a woman in a garage with a chainsaw. The police, frustrated by lack of evidence against Loris, decides to do an unusual trick to get the evidence they need: A female police officer named Jessica(Nicoletta Braschi, Begninis wife) moves in with Loris and attempts to provoke him into trying g to kill her. But since he is innocent, this leads to some very bizarre and, above all, very, very funny situations.This is one of the best comedies I have ever seen. The jokes are both original and hilarious, and all the actors are fantastic. The cinematography is excellent as well, and the music sets just the right tone.

Il Mostro by the Italian master, Roberto Benigni, is his funniest among some very funny movies. The earlier comment to watch it in Italian with subtitles is essential. Some of the humour, both spoken and physical slapstick is a little hard at first for North Americans. Once you fall into the Italian sense of humour it will have you on the floor, Roberto Benigni is the twenty first century's Charlie Chaplin. It is optimum for enjoyment if you have lived in Italy, but not required. Go to Italy afterwards! Like Felleni and the Bertolucci brothers, Benigni reflects a lot of what is intrinsically Italian.Il Mostro is about a mix up, but what comedy is not, it is really about Roberto, the words, the way the words are said, the body gestures and his mastery of playing. You can fall in love with his visual poetry... then learn Italian. I also recommend the unsung, underrated, Son of Pink Panther, it gives a new twist to the Sellers' humour. It's all that Sellers was and more, this is the true successor to the Pink Panther series! If you like the style of Il Mostro then try the earlier Johnny Stecchino, it is classic Benigni as well!

From the reviews, I was expecting a Peter Sellers Pink Panther type literate farce but instead found this movie to be a small string of Roberto's marvelous physical shtick wrapped up in fluff. Most of the slapstick situations were telegraphed from the forties. Even for a farce, the story is farcical. The movie started off with much promise but then almost immediately everyone began to chew scenery. Perhaps another director could have evened it out but I was bored. Humor is in the eye, so to speak, so take this with a grain since so many others seem to rate it funny. But my vote is it would make a great SNL skit but there is not enough of anything to make a full length movie. Your mileage may vary.

What Einstein did for the world of science Benigni has done for the world of cinema.Since being captivated and devastated (in a brilliantly sad way) by "La Vita e Bella", I've been eager to seek out other Benigni films. I was thrilled to find "Johnny Stecchino" and "Il Mostro" on the shelves of my local video store.Both are works of comedic genius! While Benigni employs very similar formulas and plot devices (mistaken identity, physical humour and petty theft) the plots are vastly different but both equally hilarious. "Il Mostro", as well as "Johnny Stecchino" will have you laughing within a minute of pressing play on your VCR. Rent these both for a night of back to back gut-busting fun!