Alright cinephiles, grab your espresso and adjust the tracking on your mental VCR. Today, we're diving headfirst into the glossy, shoulder-padded world of mid-80s Milan with Carlo Vanzina's 1986 hit, Yuppies (or Yuppies - I Giovani di Successo, if you found that imported tape!). Forget Wall Street wolves for a moment; this is the Italian strain of the ambitious, label-obsessed youth culture that defined so much of that decade, served up with a hefty dose of manic energy and distinctly European comedic flair. Finding this on a dusty rental shelf felt like uncovering a secret code, a window into how another culture was grappling (and laughing) at the same societal shifts we were seeing stateside.
Milan Bites Back
The setup is pure 80s aspirational comedy: four friends in Milan – Lorenzo (Massimo Boldi), Sandro (Christian De Sica), Giacomo (Jerry Calà), and Willy (Ezio Greggio) – are all striving for the yuppie dream. This isn't just about money; it's about the lifestyle. Sharp suits (often questionable by today's standards!), fast cars (status symbols above all else), exclusive clubs, and juggling complicated romantic entanglements, usually involving wealthy or powerful figures. The plot weaves their individual pursuits – Lorenzo's disastrous attempts to impress his wealthy father-in-law, Sandro's affair with his boss's wife, Giacomo's relentless womanizing, and Willy's schemes to climb the corporate ladder – into a frantic tapestry of misunderstandings, near misses, and outright slapstick.
Directed by Carlo Vanzina and penned alongside his brother Enrico Vanzina, Yuppies is a prime example of their knack for capturing the zeitgeist of Italian society, often with a satirical edge wrapped in broad comedy. These guys were Italian cinema royalty, especially in the comedy sphere, known for launching the incredibly popular "Vacanze di Natale" (Christmas Vacation) series just a few years prior. Yuppies felt like a natural extension, swapping the ski slopes of Cortina d'Ampezzo (though Cortina does feature prominently here too, naturally!) for the bustling streets and boardrooms of Milan. It's fascinating to note that the film was a colossal success in Italy, reportedly one of the highest-grossing films of the year, tapping directly into the national conversation (and obsession) surrounding this new social class. Critics might have sniffed, but audiences flocked to it.
The Comedy Crew
What really sells Yuppies, even through the occasionally fuzzy VHS transfer, is the chemistry of its core cast. Jerry Calà, Christian De Sica, Massimo Boldi, and Ezio Greggio were already established comedic forces in Italy, largely thanks to television and previous film successes. Watching them bounce off each other feels less like acting and more like watching seasoned pros riffing within a structure. Calà's smooth-talking (and often failing) charm, De Sica's slightly more sophisticated but equally flawed persona, Boldi's mastery of physical comedy and playing the overwhelmed everyman, and Greggio's sheer energetic absurdity – they create a dynamic that powers the film through its more episodic moments.
It's interesting how Yuppies was filmed right in the heart of the locations it depicts – the trendy spots in Milan, the aforementioned snowy getaway of Cortina. This wasn't shot on some generic backlot; the Vanzinas immersed the production in the very world it was sending up. There's a scene involving a tense business meeting constantly interrupted by personal calls – remember landlines and secretaries screening calls? It feels authentic to the era's office chaos in a way that’s almost quaint now. The film itself reflects the rapid-fire, surface-level interactions it satirizes; it moves fast, piling gag upon gag, rarely pausing for deep reflection.
80s Overload, Italian Style
Let's talk aesthetics. Yuppies is an absolute time capsule. The fashion is a glorious explosion of power suits, oversized sweaters, colourful puffer jackets (especially in the Cortina scenes!), big hair, and bigger sunglasses. The soundtrack pulses with quintessential 80s Italo disco and pop – the kind of stuff that instantly transports you back, whether you were cruising in a Fiat or a Ford Escort. It captures that specific blend of ambition and slightly tacky materialism that was so prevalent. Remember when having the right brand name on your clothes felt like the most important thing in the world? This movie lives there.
While the humor is often broad and relies on situational comedy and character archetypes, there are moments that still land. A particular sequence involving Lorenzo trying to hide evidence of an affair during a dinner party is pure farce, expertly timed by Boldi. And the relentless pursuit of "success," often at the expense of personal relationships or ethics, does offer a light critique, even if the film ultimately celebrates the energy of its protagonists more than it condemns their shallowness. One fascinating tidbit: the "paninaro" subculture, a youth movement centered around specific Milanese fast-food bars and characterized by designer labels and a certain preppy style, was booming at the time, and Yuppies definitely tapped into that visual language and aspirational vibe.
The Verdict
Yuppies isn't high art, and some of its attitudes definitely feel dated through a modern lens. It's a product of its time, reflecting the specific social anxieties and aspirations of mid-80s Italy with broad, energetic strokes. But as a piece of nostalgic entertainment, particularly for fans of European comedy or anyone curious about the global reach of the yuppie phenomenon, it's a fascinating and often funny watch. The Vanzina brothers knew their audience, and the core cast delivers exactly the kind of manic comedic energy expected. It was such a hit, it spawned a sequel, Yuppies 2, almost immediately, reuniting the main cast for more adventures in status-seeking.
Rating: 6.5/10
Justification: The score reflects its undeniable status as a huge Italian cultural touchstone of the 80s and the fun derived from its energetic cast and time-capsule quality. It loses points for its narrative simplicity, sometimes dated humor, and lack of real depth, but it delivers exactly what it promises: a fizzy, fast-paced glimpse into Italian yuppie life.
Final Thought: For a pure, uncut dose of 80s Italian excess and comedy, Yuppies is like finding that perfect mixtape labelled "Euro Hits '86" – maybe not profound, but guaranteed to spark some nostalgic joy (and maybe a chuckle at those shoulder pads).