I love Christmas movies and watch my favorites every year; usually White Christmas goes with wrapping presents but I always find time for Elf, too. And now I have a third, Aldo Giovanni and Giacomo’s La Banda dei Babbi Natale. The Santa Claus Gang, a Christmas film that makes me every bit as happy as the other two.
Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo are a comedy team that have been making movies together since the 90s and I fell in love with after their 2004 Tu La Conosci Claudia. I found the entire film with English subtitles on YouTube, and I thought that entire movies on YouTube were illegal, but I never have understood that kind of thing so watch it while it’s there:
It’s a warm, adorable and funny comedy starring the trio with Paola Cortellesi from Nessuno Mi Può Giudicare, who was much funnier in Tu La Conosci Claudia, playing Giovanni’s unhappy wife ( the “relaxomatic” scene is one of my favorites).
In La Banda dei Babbi Natale, three friends, dealing with problems in their personal lives get confused with burglars that dress as Santa Claus – Babbo Natale – and they spend Christmas eve at the police station trying to prove their innocence. The police investigator is played by Angela Finocchiaro, who is does comedy and drama equally well (remember her crying scene in Un Giorno Perfetto?) but got a lot of deserved attention recently in Benvenuti Al Sud with Claudio Bisio.
I’m watching La Banda again while I bake Christmas cookies today – it’s my new Christmas tradition.
I Love Italian Everything 