School of Thieves 2 (1987)

School of Thieves 2 is the kind of broad, big-hearted Italian comedy that doesn’t pretend crime is glamorous—it makes it wonderfully, painfully awkward. Neri Parenti stages Milan as a playground for mishaps, letting Paolo Villaggio and Massimo Boldi bounce off each other with elastic timing: two would-be schemers who can’t help tripping over their own plans, even when they’re trying to go straight. The vibe is breezy and cartoonish, powered by escalating misunderstandings and the wry presence of Enrico Maria Salerno as the “uncle” who might be their only lifeline. If you’re in the mood for subtle satire, this may feel too boisterous, but if you want a fast, silly caper where incompetence is the main special effect, it’s an easy crowd-pleaser.

School of Thieves 2 is clearly trying to recapture the scruffy, street-level charm of its predecessor by throwing Dalmazio and Egisto back into trouble and letting their incompetence drive the comedy. The catch is that it leans heavily on repetitive slapstick and “two idiots vs. the world” antics, so if you don’t laugh at broad mugging and chaotic misunderstandings, it’ll feel like the same joke stretched thin. Neri Parenti keeps the pace brisk and the cast’s comedic timing can still land in spots, especially if you enjoy that very Italian, mid-’80s flavor of farce. If you’re hoping for sharper writing or a fresh twist on the premise, this one may feel more like a second helping you didn’t really order.