Alright, fellow tapeheads, let's rewind to a time when finding comedy gold often meant navigating the slightly chaotic shelves of the 'Foreign Films' section, hoping for a gem that transcended language barriers with sheer manic energy. And sometimes, you stumbled upon something truly unique, like 1988's The Little Devil (or Il piccolo diavolo for the purists), a film that threw together one of America's favorite curmudgeons and Italy's most kinetic comedic force. The box art alone, often featuring a bewildered Walter Matthau alongside a hyperactive Roberto Benigni, was enough to make you pop that tape in the VCR, picture fuzz and all.
### When Grumpy Met Chaos
The setup is pure high-concept charm: Father Maurice (Walter Matthau), a weary American priest working in Rome, finds himself performing an exorcism. Success! Sort of. Instead of banishing the demon, he inadvertently coaxes out Giuditta (Roberto Benigni), a mischievous, childlike devil experiencing the mortal world for the very first time. Giuditta latches onto the exasperated priest like static cling, desperate to understand everything from trains and mirrors to women and sugar, causing utter pandemonium in the process. It’s a classic odd couple pairing pushed to gleefully absurd extremes.
Roberto Benigni, who also directed and co-wrote the screenplay, is an absolute force of nature here. Years before charming the world (and the Academy) with Life is Beautiful (1997), he was already a superstar in Italy, known for his relentless physical comedy and boundless energy. Watching Giuditta discover earthly sensations is a masterclass in childlike wonder filtered through chaotic impulse. He bounces, he gawks, he mimics, he crashes into things – it's exhausting and hilarious in equal measure. This wasn't CGI trickery; it was pure, unadulterated Benigni, throwing himself into the role with infectious abandon. It's fascinating to see his partnership here with co-writer Vincenzo Cerami, a collaboration that would later yield Oscar gold for Life is Beautiful. You can see the seeds of that blend of comedy and poignant observation being sown, even in this much broader farce.
### Matthau: The Eye of the Storm
And then there's Walter Matthau. What a inspired piece of casting! Taking America's beloved grumpy old man and dropping him into the whirlwind of Benigni's Italy creates comedic friction you could practically see sparking off the screen. Father Maurice is Matthau doing what he did best: reacting with world-weary disbelief and impeccable timing. His slow burns and exasperated sighs are the perfect anchor to Benigni's human pinball routine. Remember how effortlessly Matthau could convey utter annoyance with just a slump of his shoulders? Pure magic.
A little Retro Fun Fact for you: Matthau reportedly delivered all his lines in English during filming, even surrounded by an Italian cast and crew. He was then dubbed into Italian for the local release, which was a massive hit, winning Benigni the prestigious David di Donatello Award for Best Actor. It’s a testament to Matthau’s skill that his physical performance and reactions translate so perfectly, even across the language barrier if you happened to catch an international version. His chemistry with Benigni, despite the language difference on set, feels surprisingly genuine.
### That Sweet, Chaotic Italian Flavor
Beyond the central pairing, the film is drenched in a lovely, specific sense of place. Filmed primarily around Rome, it captures the vibrancy and slight absurdity of Italian city life in the late 80s. The supporting cast, including the charming Stefania Sandrelli as Nina, the object of Giuditta's fascinated affections, adds to the authentic flavour. The plot meanders delightfully, less concerned with tight narrative drive and more focused on comedic set pieces and Giuditta's hilarious discoveries. Remember the scene with the train? Or his first encounter with sugar? Pure, unadulterated slapstick joy.
This film definitely feels like an 80s European comedy – the pacing is perhaps a little looser than contemporary Hollywood fare, the colours might seem slightly muted on that old VHS copy, but the charm is undeniable. There are no slick digital effects smoothing over the edges; the comedy comes from the performances, the situations, and the sheer force of Benigni's personality. It’s a reminder of a time when international comedies could be major events, crossing borders based on universal humour and star power.
### Final Verdict: Still Got That Spark?
The Little Devil isn't Benigni's most profound work, nor is it Matthau's most iconic role. But it’s a wonderfully energetic and often hysterically funny collision of two comedic titans from different worlds. It captures a specific moment in time – Benigni on the cusp of global fame, Matthau lending his legendary presence, and Italian cinema delivering pure, unpretentious entertainment. If you remember finding this oddity on the rental shelf, or if you just appreciate brilliantly executed physical comedy and the magic of unlikely pairings, it's well worth revisiting.
Rating: 7.5 / 10 - The score reflects the undeniable comedic energy, the fantastic central performances, and the pure retro charm, docked slightly for a narrative that sometimes feels secondary to the antics, but the sheer joy overrides most quibbles.
Final Thought: It's a chaotic, sugar-fueled blast from the past that reminds you how much comedic mileage you could get from just one hyperactive devil and one perfectly exasperated priest – no green screen required. A true VHS-era discovery.