Sicily Express on Netflix is the latest comedy miniseries from the Sicilian comedy team known as Ficarra e Picone, who have been working together since 1993 and as a pair since 1998. Their chemistry as a comedy team is undeniable, but their shows tend to lean towards the broad and slapsticky. This new series has broad elements, but there is definitely a warm family element to it.
Opening Shot: The skyline of Milan. A graphic says “NORTH.” Then we see the entrance to the Santa Serenita Clinic.
The Gist: Salvo (Salvatore Ficarra) and Valentino (Valentino Picone) are nurses at the hospital, and they’re called in by a colleague when one of the more problematic patients, an elderly Sicilian who doesn’t trust Milanese medicine or even its IV fluids, is refusing treatment. They give him a “Sicilian IV”, which is just a normal IV.
The two are going back to Palermo for two days to visit their families, whom they had to leave when they took these jobs up north, and to celebrate the new restaurant being opened by Valentino’s wife Maria Teresa (Barbara Tabita) and Salvo’s wife Claudia (Katia Follesa). First, though, their boss, who thinks Southerners are lazy and uncultured (though he’s from the South himself) denies their two-day leave. Then their plane gets delayed, putting them and the others on the Milan-to-Palermo shuttle late to visit their loved ones.
Delays like that happen often, which is frustrating to Valentino, Salvo and their spouses. Maria Teresa’s father continues to more than hint that Valentino should move back and work for him at the tuna factory. Salvo, for his part, is afraid he’s going to lose Claudio to her handsome ex Gugliemo (Marco Basile).
When everyone finds out that the guys have to go back to Milan the next day, Valentino’s young daughter Aurora (Adelaide Massari) makes a wish to Santa to bring them all together. When Salvo and Valentino accidentally fall into a dumpster after Valentino accidentally throws out his phone, they are shocked when they open the lid and find themselves in Milan.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? We’ve reviewed series created and directed by the Sicilian comedy team Ficarra & Picone before; three years ago, they created a slapsticky series called Framed! A Sicilian Murder Mystery.
Our Take: While Framed! was almost pure slapstick, Sicily Express relies a lot more on family ties and heart than the last Ficarra & Picone effort we reviewed. The pair explore two interesting issues in this holiday-themed limited series: The idea of having to work where the jobs are, even if its far away from you family, and the division between Northern and Southern Italians.
Even if you’re not familiar with the culture wars between Italy’s north and south, you can understand how some people have preconceived notions and biases about the people from each region, like the elderly patient who won’t even eat Milanese cannoli because he thinks the northern air makes the ricotta taste different. Then there’s the nurse at the hospital who keeps talking about the “sea air” in Sicily. It’s a good, albeit silly, source of humor.
But where the series really shines is showing how dedicated the buddies are to their families. Salvo and Claudia are considered extended family to Valentino’s daughter Aurora, so when she wishes for everyone to be together, she is wishing that for “Uncle Salvo” as well. It’s a warm feeling that we didn’t get from the previous effort by Ficarra & Picone, and that’s enough to make us keep watching.
Of course, the whole idea that these two dumpsters are now magical portals between North and South will be exploited for maximum comedic effect, with people noticing that Salvo and Valentino smelling like garbage, to the buddies trying their best to keep this news quiet, especially amongst their commuting friends. But, given the holiday setting, we’re expecting all the wackiness to have a warm and happy ending.
Performance Worth Watching: Ficarra & Picone have been performing together for over 30 years — and as a pair since 1998 — so they’re very attuned to each other’s comedic rhythms.
Sex And Skin: None.
Parting Shot: Valentino gets a phone call when he and Salvo find themselves in Milan after they open the lid to the dumpster. When his wife asks him where he is, he says “Just stepped out.”
Sleeper Star: Katia Follesa’s character Claudia seems to be especially patient with her somewhat unhinged husband, Salvo.
Most Pilot-y Line: Salvo pitches Valentino a cheaper return flight that has five connections (one in Poland). “The only issue is that it takes 12 hours and we’d have to leave right now.” Some choice, right?
Our Call: STREAM IT. The first two episodes of Sicily Express had some good laughs and a lot of warmth, even if the North vs. South gags tended to be a little heavyhanded.
Joel Keller (@joelkeller) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.com, Fast Company and elsewhere.