Cinepanettone


The cinepanettoni are a series of farcical comedy films, one or two of which were scheduled for release annually in Italy for the Christmas period.

Etymology

Starting in 1983, some farcical or comic movie were released every year around Christmas time in Italy, and were known as cinepanettoni, a Portmanteau of Italian: cine "cinema", panettone a type of sweet bread traditionally eaten at Christmas.

The saga of ''cinepanettoni''

These films are usually focused on the holidays of stereotypical Italians: bungling, wealthy and presumptuous members of the middle class who visit famous, glamorous or exotic places. Films were set for example in the Netherlands, Egypt, India, America, Cortina d'Ampezzo. Directors included Carlo Vanzina, Enrico Oldoini, and Neri Parenti.
Many of the screenplays are not related to Christmas, other than those set in Italy.
The protagonists joined by other comic couples and international guests find themselves struggling with their holidays and the various messes that combine abroad. The children of these will often be at the end of the story the only ones to solve complicated situations created by their own fathers, who do nothing but get involved in intrigues with the underworld or love affairs.

Critical reception

Italian critics have often considered such films of little ethical or educational value, because they contain large amounts of scurrilous and vulgar phrases and characters providing a bad example of education to young viewers. It often happens in stories that characters played by De Sica and Boldi, mature and elderly people, loom too large on the scene, preventing younger actors from making a mark. Critics have also said that this line of films, including the authors, actors and directors, represented and emphasized the era and the power of Silvio Berlusconi, and the ideals of his supporters.

Filmography of ''cinepanettoni''