Super Fuzz

Super Fuzz (Poliziotto Superpiu) (1980)

Runtime: 100 minutes

Directed by: Sergio Corbucci!

Starring: Terence Hill, Ernest Borgnine, Joanne Dru, Marc Lawrence, Julie Gordon

From: El Pico S.A./Transcinema

This sure was a wacky Italian comedy filmed in South Florida where neophyte police officer Terence Hill acquires superpowers. I’ve known of Super Fuzz for years-how they were able to get Ernest Borgnine for a large role, how this was from Sergio Corbucci (!) or how it has an earworm soundtrack, especially the opening credits song, called SUPER SNOOPER. Either or its original Italian title, POLIZIOTTO SUPERPIU, should be used by me instead.

Hill is Dave Speed. He is sent by his superior Borgnine to a Seminole village out in the Everglades but is exposed to a nuclear test of “red plutonium.” While the residents of the village were evacuated beforehand, it’s best not to broach such questions as “jurisdiction” or “fallout” as Super Snooper has the vibes of a cartoon. His love interest is of course Borgnine’s niece, and of course is a cute lady-Julie Gordon of Blood Rage (i.e. Nightmare at Shadow Woods) fame. Hilariously, this is the final film role for Joanne Dru, of multiple John Ford and Howard Hawks pictures, as a woman named Rosy Labouche, a truly tremendous name. Borgnine has the hots for her old film star character.

Even by 80’s Italian standards the movie is incredibly goofy. Yet, at least in this case I still chortled at this buffoonery, and there is superhero lore: after acquiring those powers in that accident, he learns what he can do yet there is his version of kryptonite: seeing anything painted bright red. Yeah, it’s regrettable that at one point, Dave Speed used his powers on his girl in a way that is horrible by 2026 standards yet she at least slaps him and later gets the last laugh. Otherwise, I chuckled at what was sometimes slapstick silliness and him outwitting some rather dopey villains.

The sites around South Florida were nice & as someone who lives in Florida (where the Publix supermarket chain has been king for many decades) it was a gas to see a scene set at one of their stores. However, it was the discoriffic soundtrack from Italo-disco megastars La Bionda that greatly entertained me. Note that I’ve known the title song (credited to The Oceans) many years before finally giving Super Snooper a shot.

For those older than me (i.e. someone likely at least the age of 50) who grew up in the United States during the 80’s, you’ll likely recall that this was an HBO staple during the early years of the decade. That detail was read on Wiki but was also independently confirmed elsewhere. As Super Snooper has been on my figurative watchlist for years by this point, crossing the movie off the list has been long overdue.