Ma non è una cosa seria: A playboy, a maid, and a lot of 1930s charm

Is it worth your time?

If you like old Italian cinema that doesn’t take itself too seriously, then yes, Ma non è una cosa seria is a fun afternoon watch. It’s got that specific 1930s elegance where everyone is wearing sharp suits and the dialogue moves at the speed of a machine gun.

However, if you need modern pacing or aren't a fan of stage-to-screen adaptations that feel a bit, well, staged, you might find your mind wandering. It’s definitely not for the action-movie crowd.

The De Sica Charm

Vittorio De Sica is just effortlessly smooth here. He plays the wealthy bachelor like he’s bored of his own life, which is honestly a mood. Watching him dodge these women who are practically throwing themselves at him is like watching a tennis match where the ball is a marriage proposal.

There is a moment where he looks at the camera—or maybe just past it—with this tired smirk, and you realize he’s playing the social game better than anyone else in the room. It’s funny how similar this dynamic feels to Mister 44, where the chase is everything.

• Assia Noris is great. She basically steals every scene she is in just by existing near the furniture.
• The wardrobe department really put in the hours. The suits are impeccable.
• It is incredibly obvious that this started as a Pirandello play. The dialogue is so sharp it could cut glass.

I couldn't help but think about how much this mirrors his later work in The Decorator, even if the tone is a bit lighter here. It’s the same kind of human messiness, just wrapped in a tuxedo.

The servant girl, Elisa Cegani, is the quiet anchor of the movie. While everyone else is busy being loud and dramatic, she just kind of exists with this grounded energy that makes you root for her immediately. The way she handles the chaos is genuinely sweet, not in a cheesy way, but in a 'she's the only sane person here' kind of way.

The pacing is a little uneven, sure. Some scenes drag on just a second longer than they need to, but then you get a quick, biting line of dialogue that makes you forget about the lull. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s a damn good time if you let it breathe. ☕️