Okay, fellow tapeheads, let's rewind to that glorious feeling: scanning the slightly chaotic shelves of the "World Cinema" or maybe even just the "Comedy" section at Blockbuster, past the big Hollywood titles, and landing on something unfamiliar. A cover with three distinct-looking Italian guys, maybe a slightly wacky premise... you take a chance. Sometimes, you struck gold. For many Italian film fans, taking a chance on Aldo Baglio, Giovanni Storti, and Giacomo Poretti – the beloved comedic trio known simply as Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo – always paid off, and their second cinematic outing, 1998's Così è la vita (hitting international shores often as That's Life), is a prime example of their unique charm. Forget high-octane explosions for a moment; this is about the explosive chemistry of three comedic masters hitting their stride.
An Escape Goes Sideways
The setup is classic comedy fodder: Aldo is a petty criminal, Bancomat, serving time for credit card fraud, whose elaborate (read: doomed) escape plan during a prison transfer goes spectacularly wrong. The unfortunate cop escorting him is Giacomo, a fussy, by-the-book officer dreaming of becoming a writer. Through sheer chaotic circumstance, they end up taking Giovanni, a bewildered toy inventor on his way to his own wedding, hostage. What follows isn't a tense thriller, but a rambling, often hilarious, and surprisingly touching road movie across Italy as this mismatched trio navigates misunderstandings, close calls, and the dawning realization that maybe, just maybe, they have more in common than they think.
The Power of Three
If you weren't familiar with Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo from their stage work or their smash-hit debut Tre uomini e una gamba (Three Men and a Leg) the year prior, That's Life was a perfect introduction. Their dynamic is honed to perfection. Aldo is the wide-eyed innocent, the source of much of the physical comedy and naive pronouncements, often oblivious to the severity of their situation. Giovanni is the perpetually exasperated straight man, his deadpan reactions and simmering frustration bouncing perfectly off Aldo's antics. And Giacomo is the slightly neurotic intellectual, prone to pronouncements and easily flustered, providing a different flavour of comedic anxiety. Retro Fun Fact: These personas weren't just screen creations; they were carefully cultivated over years of performing together in Milan's famous Zelig cabaret and on hit TV shows like Mai dire Gol. Their transition to film felt less like actors playing roles and more like watching established friends riffing off each other, which is precisely why it works so well. They didn't just star; they co-wrote and co-directed (alongside frequent collaborator Massimo Venier), giving the film an undeniable stamp of their specific comedic vision.
Comedy with Heart (and Italian Flair)
The humour in That's Life blends slapstick – Aldo's attempts at blending in are usually disastrous – with sharp observational wit and character-based laughs. The dialogue crackles with their signature rhythm, full of misunderstandings and callbacks. Remember how certain foreign comedies on VHS just felt different? The pacing might be looser, the jokes perhaps relying more on cultural nuance, but the genuine laughter felt earned. While some gags might land better if you're familiar with Italian culture, the core humour revolving around their clashing personalities and the absurdity of their predicament is universal. There's a warmth here that elevates it beyond simple farce. The film isn't afraid to slow down occasionally, allowing moments of vulnerability and connection to peek through the chaos. Was there ever a more poignant scene involving a cheap plastic toy spaceman? Maybe not.
A Phenomenon Back Home
It's easy to forget, browsing the dusty VHS shelves internationally, just how massive this film was in Italy. Retro Fun Fact: Così è la vita wasn't just a hit; it was a box office juggernaut, pulling in Lire 60 billion (around €31 million, a staggering amount for an Italian film in 1998, equivalent to well over $50 million today). It out-grossed Titanic in Italy that year! For Aldo, Giovanni & Giacomo, this cemented their status as national treasures. Yet, outside of Italy, it remained more of a cult discovery, the kind of tape you'd recommend enthusiastically to a fellow film fan looking for something off the beaten path. Finding it felt like uncovering a secret handshake into contemporary Italian comedy. The slightly fuzzy picture quality on that NTSC or PAL tape somehow added to its charm, feeling less slick and more authentic than the Hollywood blockbusters dominating the front shelves.
The Verdict
That's Life is pure comfort food cinema for fans of character comedy. It’s powered by the incredible, lived-in chemistry of its three leads, whose timing and interplay are a joy to watch. The plot is simple, a vehicle for their talents, but it allows for genuinely funny set pieces and surprisingly effective moments of pathos. It captures that late 90s Italian comedic spirit beautifully – slightly melancholic beneath the laughs, grounded in relatable human flaws.
Rating: 8/10
Why? This score reflects the film's immense charm, brilliant comedic performances from the central trio, and its status as a peak example of their unique brand. It's genuinely funny and surprisingly warm-hearted. It loses a couple of points simply because some humour might feel dated or culturally specific to non-Italian audiences, and the road-movie structure occasionally meanders. However, for fans of the trio or anyone seeking a delightful, character-driven international comedy from the VHS era, it’s a must-find.
Final Take: Forget the CGI mayhem; sometimes the best special effect is just three masters of comedy stuck in a car together. That's Life is a reminder that authentic chemistry and clever writing never really go out of style, even if the haircuts do. Definitely worth tracking down if you missed it the first time around.