Alright, fellow tape travelers, dim the lights and adjust the tracking. Remember that feeling? Scanning the shelves at the video store, maybe in the "Foreign Comedy" section if your local place was fancy enough, and stumbling upon a sequel you didn't even know existed? That's the vibe hitting me as I rewind my thoughts to Carlo Vanzina's A Walk in Time - The Adventure Continues (original Italian title: A spasso nel tempo - L'avventura continua), the 1997 follow-up to the previous year's surprise Italian smash hit. Forget carefully plotted sci-fi; this is pure, unadulterated comedic chaos, powered by two titans of Italian cinema.
The Kings of Christmas Comedy Strike Back
If you spent any time exploring European cinema on VHS, you might have encountered the phenomenon that was Christian De Sica and Massimo Boldi. For decades, these two were the undisputed kings of the "cinepanettone" – those wildly popular, often delightfully low-brow comedies released in Italy every Christmas. Think of them as Italy's Hope & Crosby, or maybe their Abbott & Costello, but with distinctly regional Italian flavors – De Sica often the suave (or trying-to-be-suave) Roman, Boldi the more flustered, accident-prone Milanese. Their chemistry was undeniable, a finely tuned machine built on decades of collaboration, and Adventure Continues catches them right at the zenith of their popularity. Director Carlo Vanzina, alongside his brother and co-writer Enrico Vanzina (sons of the legendary director Steno and masters of this genre), knew exactly what audiences wanted: these two guys thrown into ridiculous situations.
Picking up directly where 1996's A spasso nel tempo left off, our hapless heroes Ascanio (De Sica) and Walter (Boldi) are still bouncing uncontrollably through history thanks to that wonky time machine they stumbled upon (at Universal Studios Hollywood, no less – a detail from the first film). There’s barely time to catch your breath as the Vanzina brothers essentially use history as a giant, episodic comedy sketch show. One minute they're dodging chariots in Ancient Rome, the next they're baffling Lorenzo de' Medici in Renaissance Florence, then trying not to get shot in the Wild West, before popping up in 1960s Naples and even getting a glimpse of a bizarre future. The plot? It's more of a frantic, gag-driven pinball machine than a narrative arc.
History on a Budget, Charm Included
Let's be honest: 1997 was the year of Titanic's iceberg and Men in Black's neuralyzers. Hollywood was fully embracing the digital age. A Walk in Time - The Adventure Continues, however, feels gloriously, charmingly analog in comparison. While the first film had some location shooting in the US, much of this sequel feels rooted in the legendary Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The time travel effect itself is wonderfully simple, relying more on flashing lights and sound cues than anything trying to compete with Industrial Light & Magic. But does it matter? Not one bit.
The "special effects" here are the comedic timing, the elaborate period costumes (often played for laughs), the bustling sets, and the sheer commitment of the performers, including the always-reliable Marco Messeri in a supporting role. This is comedy where the impact comes from a perfectly delivered ridiculous line or a piece of frantic physical business, not a CGI spectacle. It’s a testament to the Vanzina style: deliver the laughs quickly and efficiently, relying on the star power and familiar tropes. And deliver it did, at least in Italy – like its predecessor which raked in over 20 billion lire, this sequel was another massive domestic box office success, proving the De Sica/Boldi formula was still pure gold for producer Aurelio De Laurentiis. Critics might have scoffed (as they often did at "cinepanettoni"), but audiences voted with their wallets.
Does the Roman Holiday Hold Up?
Watching it now, plucked from the late 90s, is an interesting experience. The humor is incredibly broad, filled with puns, misunderstandings, slapstick, and jokes that are deeply rooted in Italian culture and stereotypes – some of which feel pretty dated today. It’s relentlessly paced, barely pausing between set pieces. If you’re not dialed into its specific frequency, it could feel exhausting or just plain silly. The episodic nature means some historical periods land better than others; the Renaissance section often gets singled out as a highlight.
Yet, there’s an infectious energy to it all. De Sica and Boldi are absolute professionals, hitting their marks with manic glee. You can almost feel the fun they must have had playing dress-up throughout history. It captures that specific feel of late-90s Italian mainstream comedy – confident, a little bit cheeky, and utterly unconcerned with international appeal. Finding a tape like this back in the day felt like discovering a secret window into another country's pop culture. Was the picture a bit fuzzy on your CRT? Probably. Did it matter when Boldi was dressed as a gladiator or De Sica was trying to charm a Renaissance noblewoman? Not really.
The Verdict
A Walk in Time - The Adventure Continues is a frantic, silly, and undeniably Italian time-travel farce. It’s a showcase for the immense popularity and comedic talents of Christian De Sica and Massimo Boldi, delivered with the practiced hand of the Vanzina brothers. It relies on star power and rapid-fire gags, not sophisticated effects or storytelling.
Rating: 6/10
Justification: The rating reflects the film's massive success in its native market and the undeniable chemistry of its leads. It delivers exactly what it promises – a loud, fast, gag-filled ride. However, the humor is very specific to its time and place, potentially limiting its appeal, and the episodic structure can feel repetitive. It's more of a nostalgic curiosity or a treat for dedicated fans of Italian comedy than a universally accessible classic.
Final Thought: This is pure, uncut 90s Italian blockbuster energy on tape – loud, unapologetic, and fuelled by sheer star charisma. Like finding that slightly worn VHS copy with the wonderfully garish cover, it's a blast from a very specific past, best enjoyed with forgiving eyes and maybe a dose of nostalgia.