Alright fellow tape travelers, let's rewind to a specific flavour of cinema that often occupied the 'Comedy' or sometimes, let's be honest, the slightly more mysterious 'Foreign' section of the good old video store. We're talking about the bubbly, often baffling, but undeniably eye-catching world of late-era commedia sexy all'italiana. And nestled comfortably within that cheeky canon is Sergio Martino's 1980 romp, La moglie in vacanza... l'amante in città, or as many English-language VHS boxes proclaimed it, The Wife on Vacation... The Lover in Town. Forget high-octane explosions for a moment; the fireworks here are strictly of the farcical, door-slamming, mistaken-identity variety, usually punctuated by the magnetic presence of its leading ladies.
Double Trouble, Italian Style
The premise is classic bedroom farce, seasoned with that particular Italian zest. Andrea (played by the utterly indispensable Renzo Montagnani, a true pillar of the genre) is a wealthy industrialist whose wife Valeria (Barbara Bouchet) heads off for a ski vacation in scenic Cortina d'Ampezzo. Naturally, this leaves Andrea free to pursue his sophisticated mistress, Giulia (Edwige Fenech), in the city. Simple enough, right? Ah, but commedia sexy logic dictates maximum complication! Cue Valeria also having a lover waiting in the mountains, Giulia's actual husband turning up unexpectedly, clueless friends stumbling into compromising situations, and enough near-misses and frantic cover-ups to make your head spin faster than a dodgy rental tape on fast-forward. It's a structure built less on narrative depth and more on a relentless comedic momentum – a tightly wound clockwork of coincidences and escalating panic.
Now, you can't talk about this film, or indeed much of Italian genre cinema from the 70s and early 80s, without paying tribute to its luminous stars. Edwige Fenech and Barbara Bouchet were practically royalty in this realm. Seeing them together here is a key part of the appeal. Fenech, often playing characters slightly more cunning or worldly-wise, radiates charisma. Bouchet, frequently embodying elegance mixed with a simmering frustration or desire, is equally captivating. Their pairing wasn't new; director Sergio Martino had previously cast them together in films like the episodic 40 Gradi All'ombra Del Lenzuolo (Sex with a Smile, 1976), clearly understanding the screen magic they generated. There's a palpable energy when they share scenes, even if the script demands they remain largely unaware of each other's true entanglements for much of the runtime. And Renzo Montagnani? The man was a master of the flustered, middle-aged protagonist, perpetually caught between desire and disaster. His slightly bug-eyed panic is practically a genre trademark.
Martino Lightens Up (Mostly)
What makes The Wife on Vacation... interesting for fans digging through the VHS crates is seeing Sergio Martino at the helm. This is the same director who gave us intensely stylish and often brutal gialli like Lo strano vizio della Signora Wardh (The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, 1971) and Torso (1973), not to mention gritty crime thrillers (Milano trema: la polizia vuole giustizia, The Violent Professionals, 1973). While his signature visual flair isn't entirely absent – there’s a certain slickness to the presentation, especially the crisp location work contrasting the snowy mountain resort with the chic city apartments – this is definitely Martino in a lighter, more commercial mode. He handles the comedic timing efficiently, keeping the pace brisk and ensuring the various plot threads collide with maximum farcical impact. Retro Fun Fact: Martino was quite prolific in comedy during this period, often working with Fenech. Films like Zucchero, miele e peperoncino (Sugar, Honey and Pepper, 1980) and Spaghetti a mezzanotte (1981) followed hot on the heels of this one, showcasing his versatility beyond suspense and action, even if comedy wasn't perhaps his most lauded genre.
Let's be frank, the humour here is very much of its time. It relies heavily on misunderstandings driven by infidelity, double standards are often played for laughs, and some of the gags might feel broad or even a bit dated by today's standards. Yet, there's an undeniable energy and a certain harmlessness to it all. It’s less interested in deep social commentary (though glimpses of marital dissatisfaction and class differences peek through) and more focused on delivering escapist fun. The visual appeal – the fashions, the locations, and yes, the stars themselves – was a huge part of the package. Remember finding these on the shelf, often with slightly suggestive cover art? They promised a certain kind of European glamour and light-hearted naughtiness. Another Retro Fun Fact: The soundtracks for these films were often surprisingly groovy, featuring catchy, lounge-inflected tunes. While perhaps not as iconic as Morricone's giallo scores, the music by Detto Mariano here adds to the breezy, slightly cheeky atmosphere.
That Specific VHS Charm
Watching The Wife on Vacation... now evokes that feeling of late-night channel surfing or taking a gamble on an unfamiliar title at the video store. It’s uncomplicated entertainment, designed to elicit chuckles and maybe raise an eyebrow or two. The plot mechanics are predictable if you know the genre, but the execution by the seasoned cast and capable director keeps things enjoyable. It perfectly captures that specific blend of slapstick, attractive leads, and mildly risqué situations that defined the commedia sexy. Did we always get pristine transfers back in the day? Heck no. Sometimes the colours might have been a bit washed out, the sound slightly muffled, maybe even saddled with a hilariously stiff English dub (though finding an Italian language version is always preferable!). But that was part of the experience, wasn't it? Discovering these imports felt like uncovering a slightly forbidden, definitely different, slice of world cinema.
Final Thoughts & Rating
This isn't high art, nor does it pretend to be. It's a well-oiled comedic machine built on familiar tropes, elevated by the sheer star power of Fenech, Bouchet, and Montagnani, and guided by a director who knew how to keep things moving. It delivers exactly what the title promises: a frothy mix of marital mishaps and romantic rendezvous, served with Italian style.
Rating: 6.5/10
Justification: The score reflects the film's effectiveness within its specific genre and era. It earns points for the charismatic lead performances (especially the iconic pairing of Fenech and Bouchet), Sergio Martino's competent handling of the farce, and its value as a prime example of late-stage commedia sexy all'italiana. It’s genuinely amusing in parts and visually captures its time well. However, it loses points for the inherent predictability of the plot, the reliance on sometimes dated humour, and the overall lack of ambition beyond being light, escapist entertainment. It's enjoyable, but not groundbreaking.
Final Word: A quintessential slice of Italian VHS-era froth – slip this one in when you crave charming stars navigating absurd situations with maximum panic and minimal clothing changes... just maybe don't expect profound insights into the human condition.