An American goes to Naples on business and is immediately swallowed up by the Neapolitan confusion of life, or shall we say whirlwind of confusions, because that's the last thing he expected, being formal and having a set and precise programme, which is completely shattered by unexpected events. The moment he is settled in Naples an old war buddy turns up from 40 years before, who has seen him on television and just wants to renew their old friendship, but Jack Lemmon the business man reacts against being overwhelmed by humanity but is gradually nevertheless dragged down into the life of the hearty Neapolitan Marcello Mastroianni, who gets into deep trouble just as Jack Lemmon is about to leave for home, and here is the great crisis of the film. Jack Lemmon is converted, abandons all his projects and practically jumps off the plane to save his old war partner at any cost with serious consequences. The film gives the impression of imitating Vittorio de Sica and his masterful Neapolitan films, de Sica was a napolitano himself and understood his city better than anyone else, while Scola is not quite so much a Neapolitan. The result becomes something of a pastiche, although with excellent acting, wonderful scenes, great comedy and even an example of Neapolitan local theatre in the local dialect, a perfect farce making fun of the Camorra, but that actually makes an intrusion later in the film, showing something of the serious criminal problems of the city. The film is worth watching and loving for the marvellous acting of the two great actors, Jack Lemmon was never better, and for its warm humanity in spite of all.