Hugely overrated!

Rating: 5/10 (16 April 1999)

If you haven't seen this movie yet, and if Roberto Benigni annoyed you even slightly during the Oscars, then DO NOT see this movie! You will be annoyed from the first scene. A lot of critics have said that basically, you can't make a comedy about the Holocaust. Maybe it's possible, but this is not the guy to do it. His humor is extremely broad and unsubtle -- I'd even say dated. And he NEVER STOPS YELLING -- even when he's telling his little boy to hide from the Nazis so he won't get "turned into soap." The kid, by the way, is wonderful -- best thing in the film by far. But really, if you're expecting a life-affirming comedy about how the power of love can overcome the most cruel and unfair circumstances... you may be disappointed. Benigni just does not have the sophistication to pull this off.