Fiscal comedy A satirical Franco-Italian comedy in which Toto is the default star. But neither Aldo Fabrizia nor, especially, Louis de Funes to the great Italian comedian is in no way inferior.
If there is a law, then you have to fool around it. The owner of the clothing store Torkato Pezzella (Toto) is sure that St. Augustine always takes the side of ordinary taxpayers, and therefore will not mind that his wards will slightly simplify their lives, evading the payment of these taxes. Moreover, the money collected by the state is spent on unknown things. Tax consultant Ettore (de Phineas) specializes in helping entrepreneurs cheat the state. But the tax officer Topponi (Fabrizi) is a master of catching such scoundrels as Torkato and Ettore.
All three meet in the store of Señor Pezzella: the entrepreneur and his accountant try to get out, deceive or appease the inspector. But Topponi, who lives the life of ascetic and retrograde, is adamant. And does this knight of law have a weak spot?
The film is built on witty dialogues, the clash of different temperamental characters and moral aspirations. De Phineas and Toto compete in grimaces, gestures and expression. At the same time, they manage to do without excessive clowning. Aldo Fabricia is a counterweight to both. His character is so confidently restraining his emotions that it becomes really scary to wait for this volcano to finally explode.
High-quality, funny, instructive and clearly underrated cinema. And St. Augustine will still intervene in history.
8 out of 10