The Soldier with Great Maneuvers (1978)

Original Title: La soldatessa alle grandi manovre; A sequel of sorts to the Italian comedy La soldatessa alla visita militare (1977). The gang's all here - the troupe made a number of similar films, including the follow up - The Nurse in the Military Madhouse.  If you're not familiar, just imagine the Carry On films, but a lot stupider.

Doctor Eva Marini (Edwige Fenech) presents a medical analysis of a soldier to a military tribunal.  One of the officers is so impressed by her research and presentation, he wants her to visit a military base and conduct a similar analysis of the soldiers at this outpost.

 Marini arrives at the base, and salutes Colonnello Fiaschetta (Renzo Montagnani). 

Seeing he's wearing women's shoes, Marini quickly learns this is not your ordinary military installation.  These soldiers are nuts.

Here we have Alvaro (Alvaro Vitali) literally peeing in his own face.  I've said before that I find Vitali the worst of the worst.  If you're the type that watches the Three Stooges and wishes they were even dumber, then maybe his brand of comedy is for you.

Sadly, this whole film is full of Vitali style comedy.  I won't even attempt to describe them; just know that (1) they take up three fourths of the film, and (2) it gets even dumber than peeing in your own face.  Fart jokes and lusting after obese whores are the high points, if that tells you anything.

The centerpiece of the film revolves around a two-way mirror installed in Marini's room.

 As Marini undresses, the soldiers crowd around, drooling all over themselves.

Edwige Fenech provides the usual nudity - always welcome, and never disappoints.  Although, the levels of Fenech skin never even approaches her high-water mark in La Pretora (1976).

 Watching the soldiers get hot and bothered over the two-way mirror was actually pretty amusing.

 Just as Marini is about to pull down her panties, the colonel arrives and shuts down the fun.

Colonnello Fiaschetta has a habit of walking in his sleep, chanting "mama".  The soldiers have a lot of fun with practical jokes at their colonel's expense.

 Fenech looks absolutely dynamite in this film.

One of Marini's tasks is to attend to  Gianluca Capretti (Michele Gammino), who's confined to the infirmary.  Capretti is a super stud, and constantly has women sneaking in to his hospital room.

 Colonnello Fiaschetta is dominated by his aggressive mother (Grazia Di Marzà).  She's bitterly disappointed in her son, who she feels could be a general by now if only he'd get his act together.

Madre di Fiaschetta sits in front of the two-way mirror - providing a pretty fun scene, where her son desperately tries to prevent her from seeing Marini undress.

 Capretti tries valiantly to get Marini out of her dress, but she's immune to his Casanova bit.

 Marini undresses yet again, and Capretti spies from above...

 Kind of creepy, but whatever.

 Just a quick taste of the many over-the-top, batshit insane comedy bits that take place throughout. This bit involves Alvaro Vitali and the gang lusting after a red-haired, wine stained woman.  It's shockingly awful.

In the film's climax, they believe they are being invaded.  Marini finds that Capretti has escaped the infirmary.  She tracks him down and holds him at gunpoint.

 But she is soon at his mercy.  Not even the scientific minded doctor can deny the charms of Capretti.

I've read criticisms of the film stating that it's low on skin from Fenech, but she gets naked four separate times.  Each time is well lit, and she's wearing see-through panties a couple times.... so, I'm not sure there's much to complain about.  It's not at the level of La Pretora, as I've said, but it still ain't shabby.

The gang of idiots prepare themselves for battle. 

Marini and Capretti believe the enemy has just entered their hotel; the doctor grabs a weapon to capture Generale Barattoli (Antonino Faà di Bruno).

It all ends in the silliest, most asinine manner imaginable, with the colonel being promoted to general for his bravery.  THE END

While it certainly isn't among the best of Fenech's comedies, it lives up to expectations... if your expectations are dipshit humor and mild nudity.  I certainly would have preferred less of Alvaro Vitali's scenes - they're unwatchably stupid.  If the film had centered around Fenech more, with the Vitali scenes serving more as comedic side bits, it would have been much improved.

I should clarify that Vitali isn't the only actor ruining an otherwise good film with awful attempts at comedy.  Lino Banfi plays a priest with an eating disorder, and is incomprehensibly unfunny.  A damn shame that the bulk of the film is cluttered with this silliness.

Still, Fenech does deliver the goods - providing four quality nude scenes.  She is a pleasure to watch with clothes on or off, and frankly makes this film worth watching despite her limited role.

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆