Film Review: Watch Out, We're Mad (...altrimenti chi arabbiamo!, 1974)

Even the bitter rivals can, under certain circumstances, find a common cause and join forces, and this is what happens to the protagonists of Watch Out, We’re Mad, 1974 Italian action comedy directed by Marcello Fondato. Ben (played by Bud Spencer) and Kid (played by Terence Hill) are two race drivers who compete each other at Spanish rallycross race in order to win red Puma dune buggy with yellow top. Despite all their efforts, both finish the race at the exactly same time and both win the car. Since sharing is out of the question, they agree to settle the matter through beer and hot dog contest in nearby amusement park. They start just as the amusement park is attacked by well-dressed thugs hired by Boss (played by John Sharp), wealthy entrepreneur who wants the park gone and replaced by his skyscraper. Ben and Kid ignore this until the thugs smash their car. They come to Boss and demand that he compensates them with another Puma dune buggy, otherwise they will “get mad”. Advised by his German psychiatrist (played by Donald Pleasance) Boss rejects them thus paving the way for the next round of mayhem.

Watch Out, We’re Mad is the seventh film that Bud Spencer and Terence Hill made together and, by that time, they perfected what would be remembered as one of the most formidable double acts in history of cinema. Their strong “buddy buddy” dynamic, together with Hill’s athletic abilities and Spencer’s talent for comedy elevates this film, the first in which they appear in relatively non-exotic modern setting of Madrid and its surroundings. The film doesn’t appear to have a lot of budget, there is some sloppy editing and the song “Dune Buggy” by Oliver Onions gets repeated so often in the film that it is somewhat irritating. However, apart from Spencer and Hill who again excel in family-friendly action comedy, this film can rely on excellent stunt work by legendary driver Rémy Julienne and his team, like in the scene where protagonists battle vicious biker gang or the racing scenes. The acting is also very good, especially in the case of Sharp and Pleasance as over the top villains, with latter obviously having the blast during the production. At some rare instances director Fondato allows himself to pay homage to great masters of cinema like Hitchcock and Melville, most notably in the memorable choir practice scene that features hitman (played by Manuel de Blas), obviously made to resemble Alain Delon’s character in Le Samouraï. Like many Spencer-Hill pairings, this film shows that enough skill can make silly entertainment as watchable now as it was half a century ago.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/6916-altrimenti-ci-arrabbiamo
Critic: AA