"Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro" (that is easy to understand, even for non-Italians like me) or "Zwei Asse trumpfen auf" is a co-production between the United States and Italy from 1981, so this one will have its 40th anniversary really soon and unless you show up here witin the next days or weeks, it probably happened already. Anyway, it's not a problem. Like almost all other Spencer/Hill movies, this is a timeless film I think. But first things first: It is definitely among their better-rated films here on imdb with the 7 left of the comma. Also the amount of votes over 10k is pretty telling. It may not sound like a lot, but we have to keep in mind that Spencer and his films were never really known in America, but here in Germany they could not have been any more popular. I am not sure if this one did not win a Golden Screen or if it just missing here from imdb. In any case, really many Spencer (and Hill) films did and this is an award that is given only to films for which really many people went ot theaters to watch them. I think this also has to do with the German dub of these Italian-language films that is almost always top-notch and the German voice for Spencer is one I will always immediately recognize and I am sure that I am far from the only one there. At almost 110 minutes, this is also one of the longer Spencer/Hill films. The director is Sergio Corbucci and he is also one of the two writers here. While Corbucci is probably more known for some of the western films he made in the 1960s, this one here is also not his only film starring the famous duo Soencer and Hill. The co-writer is Mario Amendola. Must admit that I am not familiar with him at all despite his gigantic body of work. As for the cast, the film is set away from civilization, so this is a bit of an exotic cast. But only if we look at the characters. For example the Japanese man is played by an American and Mama is played by a Jamaican. And Anulu is played by an Italian. Unexpected. I have a feeling many people would say this portrayal is politically incorrect, but let them ramble. We who know this is not true enjoy these films for what they are. So nice that people did not wine about everything back then. In any case, said Italian is Sal Borgese and he is also still alive today and in his 80s just like Terence Hill. Hopefully, they will stay with us a bit longer. As for the rest, especially Spencer of course, may they rest in peace. I am really grateful for all the films the man he left us and knowing that he himself did not rate them highly in his senior years makes me a bit sad, bit it is okay. Still fun all along. By the way, Borgese showed up in other Spencer films too, so if you look closely enough, you may spot him on other occasions. Before I get really into detail about the plot here and the moments and scenes I liked the most, let me make another reference to the dubbed version. Not only is the voice for Spencer (and Hill) pretty perfect, but it's also about what the characters say. Many examples there, but let me state one quick line here especially that had me in stitches. I am talking about the one where Spencer's character is scared the Japanese man will shoot him and he says something like "der dödelt uns weg" (impossible to translate, like "he shoots us" with the funniest verb one could use). So yeah, it is also those small moments where this film is highly entertaining and you don't even expect that.
Okay, what else did I like? I think there is despite the gruffiness to Spencer's character always some nice heart in these films. We have no orphanage here, but instead we get a story about the village idiot being the son of the vilage leader and the Japanese fella apparently. And the parents are reunited in the end. Of course, it is not realistic looking at how the Japanese guy has behaved for years, maybe decades, but it is still nice. realism is nothing you should look for in these movies. This is already proven by the fact that there are so many people on this island and new ones show up constantly. In reality, it would be a harsh battle for survival perhaps, but here it is much more about Spencer's and Hill's characters' interaction with all the folk. And as you always get some fun fights and they cannot beat up the tribe living there and also not the Japanese fella, we have a gang of pirates, who honestly look really gay in their leather outfits and they are the mean ones who have oppressed the indigenes for a long time and now they get their fair share from our two heroes. But only with fists of course. In another context, we have a rifle cut into half by a really sharp blade. That is kinda symbolic how guns or at least bullets are never a crucial factor in Bud Spencer movies. It's all about fistpower. By the way, there is also a decent running gag with Borgese's Anulu being constantly hit and kicked, be it by Spencer early on. Or be it by the bad guys. or be it even by his own mother. Poor fella. But he is coping well and still a likable character after initially I thought he could be some main antagonist even in the long run. You see I don't remember much, even if I have seen this movie before. But the bad guys are almist always White men from civilization in Bud Spencer films and even on the most remote island, this does not change. Now that is really making a statement against racism. Much more crucial than 99% of the stuff done today. But I am drifting a bit away now. The scenes on the ship early on are fun as well when we have Hill's character hiding and eating Bud's food, but eventually he finds out what's going on and Hill's character is in for a punishment. Of course, the two bond quickly a little while later, even after Hill's character intentionally throws the binoculars into the water and is responsible for the two falling off the boat. Spencer's character really is a saint for making friends with him nonetheless. Or actually he is not a saint which makes him so relatable because in the end he goes really mad (understandably) when he finds out the treasure is indeed priceless and not worthless. Haha Bud's open mouth in this scene. He's the real treasure. Another fun twist, but expected somehow. Or maybe not. Maybe I just knew it would happen because I saw the film before. Alright, what else can I say? If you got until here, then you should really know by now that this is a movie I very much recommend and I never would (or will) give this one a thumbs-down. By the way, what happened to the bird from the ship. I hope hs is alright. He (or it) did not come with them to the island right? Oh yes, another really funny moment here (one of the best) was when the bad guys meet our heroes for the first time and they say something like they have not checked that one yet when they are about to raid another shack and boom the two entering there immediately fly out as a consequence of Spencer's and Hill's fists. Or immediately afterwards when the leader from the bad guys tries to step on Spencer's character's foot as he did on other occasions and nothing happens and Hill's character suggests he should try both feet at once, that was also very funny what happened next. Ah man I love those films. Maybe I will give out an even higher rating next time when I see it. For now 3 stars out of 5 seems enough because there are other films including the two (or only Spencer) that I liked maybe a little more even, but there is no way I will ever give a lower rating than the current one. At the end of my review, another final reference to the end of this movie: Of course, Hill's character will not let his new buddy (no pun intended) fly away without him and Spencer acting frightened is always fun, especially the noise from the German voice actor there when Hill's character talks about the beer. Oh and Spencer was a gifted pilote in real life. Not a coincidence that he is inside planes so many times in his films. And the scenes with the girls before that a bit unusual because normally it is always Hill's character who is doing fine with the girls (no surprise with his blue eyes), but here we find out it is also all staged, so that he could get on board. Of course. Enough now. I could talk about another dozen scenes, but instead you should really watch this movie. Or rewatch it. I kinda want to as well and I just did. Enough said about how much fun this is. Very much recommended.
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