Il commissario Manara (2008– ) User Reviews

I'm glad I stuck with it

[laduqesa · 7/10 · 29 November 2020]

My first impressions weren't too good. There was too much sentimentality and comedy and not enough crime. The programme seemed formulaic and it is. However, I stuck with it and came to like the series as what it is, a simple bit of fun.

It got to be a familiar theme. We opened with a gruesome killing which was solved in the end by Signor Manara and his principal helper whether the lovely Lara or her replacement in the second season the long legged Marta. Various players had bit parts in the clearing up of the crimes - a couple of buffoonish uniformed cops, the reception cop, the odd couple Sardi and Toscani, Aunty Caterina and (occasionally) Ada.

Throughout, Inspector Manara melted female hearts and seduced several woman and sometimes these conquests were instrumental in solving the whodunnit.

The sets and backgrounds were fabulous. It was shot in a truly unspoilt corner of Italy with old buildings and narrow streets set against the backdrop of the sea.

A third season was commissioned and written. Filming was announced to be starting on several occasions but the project was quietly dropped. It's a real shame. It will never happen now. I'd have loved to see the new episodes.

This is a nice, frothy confection that is easy to watch. I'm confined to barracks because of covid and it made an ideal way to while away some hours.

enjoyable, Italian spice with some fun

[braquecubism · 8/10 · 11 June 2021]

8 for me is pretty high. I've seen some Italian comedy, msytery drama, that are truly unwatchable. I have reservations, bec so much is very sterotypical formula. Guido, Luca, is likeable, sexy, good hearted, a good dectective, a womanizer without being cruel. There he is in a small town in Tuscany, the Burbs, and there are woman who look like Italian Lingerie models, could give Heidi Klum a run. Even the sandwich girl in season 2, on screen only a few minutes, Looks just like the Inspector Marta, season 2. This series depends on the likeablility of Luca, Guido, and whether you can buy him as a respected, effective Dectective.

No one is hurt by his philandering. Well he is 36, 38, a healthy single man, why wouldn't he be busy. The Coroner, looking like a 5'10" high fashion, Victoria Secrets model, a free spirit who takes her sex like a man, is treated pretty casually by Luca. As if she has no feelings, but is never hurt or offended. Luca's escapades are 1/3 of the series. He is an idealized italian, liked & respected by everyone, even if with a wink at his boyish nature. Good at his job. Solves mysteries with sympathy for the perpetrators. Just as a comment, Guido, 6'1" or 2", tall slim, atheletic, sportif, looks good in shorts (I hate skinny men's bird legs.) They show his chest in an open shirt, but never shirtless, no abs or chest or arms. Not enough muscles, probalby skinny arms, we'd see hi shirtless. Just saying. The messy curly hair is often too much, and the mustache which suits him, looks like 80s prono man, or 90s cop.

I agree with another reviewer, that the off again, on again, I like you, do I love you, can I trust you between Inspector Lara and Luca is a bit tedious. Gets a lot of screen play.

There is a Top commissoner, a charactature, 5 feet tall, pudgy, older with a young sexy wife. 2 uniform cops, give comic relief, loyal 2nd in cimmand, hen pecked by his also policeman wife. Auntie, a crime solver, and Ada, Doting Landlady.

There are no homeless. No one is out of work, or struggling for money. Everyone is middle class. No astrocrats like in Midsommer mysteries. Yet there are a lot of murders for a quiet sleepy town, any other crime? We don't see it. OK, maybe life in the countryside of Tuscany is Utopia. And they don't have street crime, drugs, gang, influences from the big city (Milan) homelessness, provety. Also no children around on the street. No cars, no traffic. No business center.

Me, I enjoyed Guido, the Italian spice, the fun, the whimsy, the counryside. Gppd way to learn Itralian. Some might not like it.

Enjoyable detective series

[pensman · 9/10 · 12 November 2016]

Inspector Luca Manara is a long way from home in Milan and has been sent to the Tuscan countryside because of his habit of believing rules are for other cops. When he arrives at the station riding his motorcycle, he is mistaken for a messenger (he gets a lot of that). He finds he will be assisted by an old classmate—herself just transferred also—Lara Rubino, who promptly greets her new chief with a slap across the face. Yes, they have a history. At first, his new team views him with suspicion, but they come to like and respect their new chief who is an excellent detective.

Each episode presents a new case, but also tells and unfolding story of Luca and his relationships with his new team. Luca is a ladies' man and of course this leads him into trouble, especially when he "discovers" he actually may be in love with Lara. A hurdle he must deal with on two levels: accept he can be in love; and deal with the possibility he may have gotten Ginevra Rosmini, the very attractive coroner, pregnant. This series runs a fine line with comedic elements and serious mysteries; and it succeeds with both.

If you like a series with likable characters and an overarching story line that pulls characters' lives together then here is a series you will enjoy. An excellent cast makes watching this series a pleasure. No mistakes in casting here.

Currently this series can found on the MHz channel which you purchase monthly if you have a Roku.

Eye candy AND murders!

[south-swell · 9/10 · 16 August 2020]

This series is so Italian, they should call it "Inspector Marinara". Even the cops are simpatico. I love the aunt that solves all the crimes. The women are drool-worthy. The locale is Tuscany. The crimes mostly involve Italian music, art and culture. Did I mention how evocative the cinematography is? A winner!

Juice not worth the squeeze

[qui_j · 3/10 · 29 October 2021]

This is a frothy bit of superficial rubbish from RAI. It's filmed in the style of a 1970s American detective show, a bit like Magnum PI or similar. It was just not engaging enough to hold attention. After a while the silliness of it all becomes annoying and not worth watching.

Bravissimo!

[volare12 · 9/10 · 30 August 2020]

I knew nothing about this series and wasn't sure what to expect - I happened on it by chance while browsing through Amazon Prime selections, and I'm very glad I did! The basic premise is nothing new: a police chief inspector, Luca Manara, arrives at his new post in the sleepy district of Maremma in Tuscany, and is something of a fish out of water, having been transferred from a much more exciting position in the big city of Milan. He is clearly not happy being in this non-urban locale. He has a reputation as a playboy - in fact the reason for his transfer, we find out, was his romantic dalliance with his (unrealized-by-him-at-the-time) boss' wife. He also has a track record of not doing things "by the book" at work. So far fairly standard, but the clever writers immediately throw some spice into the pot by having his forensics expert also be a new transfer into the district: Lara Rubino, who was a classmate of Manara's at the Police Academy, and who, upon encountering him again at their new place of work, greets him wordlessly with a slap across the face, in front of the rest of the squad. What gives? Well if you stick around, you'll not only find out, you'll have a very fun time along the way.

This is far from the angsty noir of northern Europe-set detective entries like Vera or Wallander. There are stylistic elements reminiscent of Moonlighting and Death In Paradise, but Il Commissario Manara is really a unique creation of its own. The overall tone of the show is light-hearted (for instance, a running gag depicts how people often don't believe Manara is a policeman when they meet him and think he's a messenger or delivery person), but the writers and actors do give their characters a lot of depth, which is the main reason the show works so well. There is a new crime investigated each episode - the cases are interesting without being overly complicated, and the resolutions are often surprisingly sad and emotional, which offsets the more comedic aspect of the show. The first season focuses on developing the character relationships between Manara and his team - Manara gradually comes to like his new post, and his slightly bumbling but well-meaning underlings quickly recognize his capabilities - and particularly, the past and present relationship between Manara and Rubino. The episodes are all tightly scripted and expertly filmed, and the stories are very engrossing, building nicely to the climax of the season 1 finale, a definite high point.

The acting is superb across the board. Guido Caprino as Manara and Roberta Giarrusso as Rubino are excellent - both are extremely attractive without being artificially "glammed up" Hollywood-style, both excel at playing both comedy and drama, and together they achieve an easy sexy chemistry that makes their characters' relationship totally believable. The supporting cast is equally good, in particular Jane Alexander (not to be confused with the American actress of the same name) as the attractively forthright coroner Ginevra who dresses like a Bond girl, and Valeria Valeri as Rubino's aunt Caterina, who together with her German Shepherd "Brigadiere" contributes some admirable sleuthing in her own right. All the regular characters - and there are quite a few of them - are very engaging. The photography is also beautiful, and the theme music is absolutely great. And speaking as an Italian-American and current student of the Italian language, listening to the dialogue is a total delight, even if the actors do speak molto rapidamente! (There are English subtitles, of course)

While the first season is pretty much perfect, the second season suffers from the too-long absence of Roberta Giarrusso. Not sure if she was written out due to some other work conflicts she had, but she is sorely missed while she is gone. The writers do come up with a plausible excuse for Rubino to go to Milan temporarily - she has been selected to attend a prestigious course which will enhance her police career - and she does still make sporadic "long-distance" appearances, but the replacement character Marta Rivera, played by Anna Safroncik, is never as interesting, despite the writers' attempts to give her a "mysterious" past. And when Rivera's old boyfriend (played by an inexplicably dubbed Francesco Quinn) shows up as something of an adversary to Manara, things get too soap opera-ish on the romantic front. Thankfully Rubino does return in the flesh, though not soon enough for my taste. Another downside is that the writers turn new parents Toscani and Sardi into more of a henpecked husband/shrewish wife combo, which detracts somewhat from their previous appeal. The good news is that Guido Caprino really gets to drive the second season himself as Manara, and he is more than up to the task, displaying some very impressive physical skills in addition to his wonderful acting chops.

The growth of Manara's character is probably the best thing about the series. We do realize early on that although he is extremely gifted dealing with "the ladies" (who just can't seem to keep from throwing themselves at him), he is far from being an empty womanizer - he clearly has a big heart and excellent moral compass, in addition to his extraordinary police smarts, and the writers and Caprino both succeed in making him a very sympathetic soul. Rubino, although having less screen time in season 2, is also developed well with a wonderful combination of sweetness and strength, and it would have been really nice to see them both, as well as all the other lovable regulars, continue into a third season. Alas, it was not to be - apparently a new season was green-lighted at one point and the writers went ahead and laid out their plans for the characters, only to have it scrapped at the last minute. Ah, well... our loss. But, at least we can enjoy the two seasons that were filmed.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this show - Il Commissario Manara will make you feel warm and happy! Viva l'Italia!

Just boring.

[mickymoose · 1/10 · 1 December 2021]

I was offered the 2015 series through Acorn TV Subscription. Couldn't find any reason to stay thru Ep 2, as Ep 1 didn't tantalize me. Had parallel elements at casting to males and females in U. S. offerings, but not as fast on their feet with actions and dialogue. Seemed like I was wasting my time, just reading the subtitles.

nice romantic comedy with police show..nothing to regret.

[sauternes-59480 · 9/10 · 2 November 2021]

Ragazzi,buongiorno..:) This is something to enjoy during late evenings when you got some trouble to sleep..Something to enjoy and do not expect too much from light series that was created not for serious film festival rewards, but for general public just to relax.. You will be surprise how good comedy Italians can create...!!:) do not pay attention to minor inconsistencies, even illogicalities and inconsistencies in the narrative ... After all, who worries about it as one can laugh and enjoy the situations.

Very well matched actors for the main roles, that is Manara and his girlfriend Lara .. Both are former Italian models so it's no wonder they look sooo good. !!

Guido Caprino in his best years, he looks fantastic with a storm of constantly tousled curls .. :) With very strong female gaze...!! Do not know from where it comes,but is a bit disturbing.. This is what commissario Manara looks like and nothing better .. He is a really good actor, just look at how he copes with dialogues, how he interprets the text wonderfully! !!, when he collaborates with other actors on the set ... He's just great. It's a shame that you don't see him on the stage of Shakespeare's great comedies ... but he can also be Macbeth ..!well, sky is the limit..!!

Hello..!! Directors..!!!

Roberta Garrusso as Lara is a bit in the shadows .. but also shows a comic talent .. apart from that she is very beautiful and nothing else would count ... :) The other actors are also doing well .. and the inspector Toskani is a real comic gem ..!!

The character of the coroner is played by an actress with very bad teeth ala Dracula, whether he is actually a guy disguised as a woman .. it is not known .. although my guess is that he is actually a man.

. For the viewer it may be an additional attraction and own investigation :)) To sum up ... you can really have fun... and not have a grudge ... :)) And a good opportunity to practice your Italian language!!

E una buona opportunità per praticare la tua lingua italiana..!!:)).

Can't stop watching

[aclark4life · 10/10 · 18 April 2021]

After watching all popular British crime dramas on Prime I stumbled on this gem and was immediately intrigued and entertained by it. Just finished Season 1, and will now continue living a decadent and adventurous lifestyle in Italy, vicariously, through this amazing cast and production. I feel like if I watch enough of it, I may speak fluent Italian when it's over. Grazie Manara!