Alright, fellow tapeheads, dim the lights, adjust the tracking, and let that familiar magnetic hum fill the room. Tonight, we're digging into a slice of pure early-80s Italian charm meets American small-town sci-fi silliness: Michel Lupo's 1980 follow-up, Why Did You Pick On Me? (original title: Chissà perché... capitano tutte a me). If you remember the gentle giant Sheriff Hall from The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (1979), you know exactly the kind of comforting, fist-flying fun we're in for. This isn't gritty realism; it's pure, unadulterated Bud Spencer magic.
### Back on the Beat in Monroe
Picking up where the first film left off, we find Sheriff Hall (the inimitable Bud Spencer) trying to live a relatively normal life in Monroe, Georgia, after the departure of his extraterrestrial charge, H7-25. But normalcy is a foreign concept when aliens are involved. Soon enough, young H7-25 (reprised by the incredibly endearing Cary Guffey, fresh off Close Encounters of the Third Kind) beams back down, now going by Charlie Warren, needing Hall's protection once again. Why? Because this time, other aliens are after him, and they're not nearly as friendly. It's a setup that feels perfectly ripped from a Saturday morning cartoon, and honestly, that's a huge part of its charm. The production returned to Monroe, Georgia, lending the film an authentic American backdrop that somehow makes the Italian sensibilities and slapstick even more delightfully incongruous.
### The Gentle Giant and the Robot Menace
Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli to his family, and a former Olympic swimmer, which explains that imposing physique!) is Sheriff Hall. He embodies that unique blend of world-weary sighs, grumpy reluctance, and ultimately, fierce loyalty. He doesn't want trouble, but trouble – often wearing goofy outfits – keeps finding him. His interactions with young Cary Guffey are genuinely sweet, providing the film's heart amidst the chaos. Guffey, despite his young age, holds his own, delivering his lines about alien technology with a matter-of-fact innocence that sells the premise.
Our antagonists this time are a pair of humanoid alien robots (played with delightful stiffness by Kerry Gammill and Jeff Doucette) sent to retrieve Charlie. They’re classic B-movie baddies – clad in slightly naff silver outfits, possessing superior technology but zero understanding of human (or Sheriff Hall's) unpredictability. Their attempts to blend in and use force inevitably lead them straight into the path of Hall's legendary fists. The effects used for the robots are pure 1980s practical gold – clunky movements, glowing eyes, and that satisfying thwack when they inevitably get punched into next week.
### Fists of Fury, Sounds of Slapstick
Let's talk about the action, because that's the main course in any Bud Spencer feast. Director Michel Lupo, who helmed several Spencer classics like Bulldozer (1978), knew exactly what fans wanted: elaborate, almost balletic brawls where Spencer takes on legions of hapless goons (and robots) with his signature open-handed slaps and hammer-fist blows. These aren't John McClane firefights; they're meticulously choreographed slapstick set-pieces.
What made these scenes pop on grainy VHS back in the day was the sheer physicality. Remember how real those hits looked, even though they were clearly staged for comedy? That’s the beauty of practical stunt work. You see real guys getting thrown through (balsa wood) tables, real bodies hitting the floor (onto strategically placed mats, hopefully!). The sound design is crucial too – those exaggerated thwacks, pows, and biffs are as iconic as Spencer’s scowl. There's a weight and impact here that feels fundamentally different from today’s often seamless, but sometimes weightless, CGI-assisted action. It’s tactile, it’s crunchy, and it’s incredibly satisfying in its own cartoonish way. Wasn't there something just inherently funny about seeing a robot get clotheslined by a grumpy sheriff?
### That Euro-Cult Charm
While shot in the US, Why Did You Pick On Me? retains that distinct European flavour common in Italian genre films of the era. The pacing is leisurely, the humor broad, and the synth-heavy score by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis (aka Oliver Onions), frequent collaborators on Spencer/Hill films, is instantly recognizable and perfectly sets the lighthearted tone. The film wasn't a massive hit stateside, but like many Bud Spencer vehicles, it found huge audiences across Europe, particularly in Italy and Germany, where Spencer was a beloved superstar. It’s a film made with affection, aimed squarely at families and fans of Spencer's unique brand of action-comedy. Forget deep themes; this is about the simple joy of watching the big guy sort things out with a sigh and a well-aimed punch.
Retro Fun Fact: Bud Spencer often performed many of his own stunts, especially the fight choreography that relied more on timing and his imposing presence than complex acrobatics. His "hammer fist" technique was reportedly developed to avoid actually hurting stuntmen during filming!
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Rating: 7/10
Justification: This score reflects the film's success within its specific niche. It delivers exactly what fans of Bud Spencer and lighthearted 80s family fare expect: charming performances, goofy sci-fi elements, and immensely satisfying, practically executed slapstick brawls. It’s not high art, and the plot is paper-thin, but it’s incredibly watchable, good-natured fun. The nostalgia factor is high, and Spencer's screen presence alone carries significant weight. Points deducted for some dated elements and simplicity, but it achieves its modest goals with considerable charm.
Final Word: A comforting bowl of VHS soup for the soul, Why Did You Pick On Me? is a perfect reminder of when action heroes could solve alien invasions with little more than a grumpy attitude and a really, really solid punch – no CGI required, just pure Spencer-power. Still guaranteed to raise a smile.