Totò nella luna

Totò was a huge star on the stage and in films in his native Italy. Despite this, there aren't that many movies of his available in the States. This is the second one and, like the other, it stinks. Now I cannot really evaluate the man based only on two films--and hopefully his other films are better. As for my opinion of these two films ("Totò in the Moon" and "Dov'è la Libertà...?", he is great at yelling and blustering and being annoying, but considering that we already had Mussolini, I cannot see any reason to have Totò!

In this film, Toto plays Mr. Belafonte, an angry guy who is always screaming at Achille--a dreamer who wants to make his living writing sci-fi novels. However, in a completely ridiculous twist, the Americans come to Italy to get Achille to join the space program because of the unusual presence of 'Glumonio' in his body(?). But Achille is a moron and the Americans don't understand Italian all that well, and he thinks they are here to buy his latest sci-fi novel. Belafronte overhears their conversation and also thinks this is the case--and he offers Achille his daughter in marriage. However, when Achille learns that the money they gave him was to pay him to go into space, he panics, as he's a coward. What's next? Well, more screaming and yelling....

Overall, this is a very broadly acted film--nothing like comedies by more subtle international comedians like Fernandel and Cantinflas-- whose films have aged well. This one hasn't, as it hasn't a single laugh.