The Italians invented the theatrical lowbrow slapstick that became a staple of 20th century film. Their brand is more juvenile and extreme, but they also bring their advanced culture and customs to it. That makes a film like "Policewoman" a mixed bag. Its cheap and cynical as any grindhouse film you can find, but it has gorgeous art direction and solid filmmaking. The script is kinda weak, full of lame gags and Italian humor is probably lost in translation. There's a lot of racial humor that comes off mean and the physical humor never becomes sophisticated beyond fart jokes and falling down. But this is a watchable mess. Its a good education on 80s Italian film culture and it has its redeeming moments. Edwige Fenech is a bonafide star and she's enough of a draw for most men.As bad as it is, you can do worse. And it fits in the genre with Troma and bad 80s Porky's ripoffs, so there's definitely an audience for this still.

Not only is that guy out of shape, this movie is seriously out of shape.Now, I love Edwige Fenech , and she certainly shows an increasing acting ability her - she plays two parts - but that is not enough to recommend a film that really goes over the edge with slapstick. I thought at times I was watching the Three Stooges. With the silly Texan, and the stuttering Turk, it was very painful.Stereotypes of blacks and gays didn't make it any better.I won't be looking for any more in the policewoman series. I may even skip the schoolteacher series. Just bring me more Giallo. That's where Fenech really shines.

And you thought Angie Dickinson's "Pepper" Anderson was a good-looking policewoman? Check out what Eurobabe Edwige Fenech brings to the table, in 1981's sexy Italian farce "A Policewoman in New York"! Edwige's fans will be happy to learn that she plays not one but two luscious roles in this picture: Gianna Amicucci, a uniformed policewoman in Rome, AND her spitting image, Pupa, the mistress of a mobster in NYC. Gianna and her doofus sidekick are tasked by the F.B.I. to infiltrate this criminal gang and get the goods on them, so it's off to the Big Apple for the two, in this, the last of the "Policewoman" series. Anyway, this is the type of film that will do anything for a laff, even if it means trotting out fart and urination humor, and nothing seems to be sacred here. Thus, there are jokes at the expense of gays, blacks, Arabs, American Indians and stutterers, and much use of cartoon slapstick. (Indeed, I could almost feel the ghosts of Moe, Larry and Curly smiling down in complete approbation!) Fortunately, the picture IS often quite funny. And our Edwige? More than just a gorgeous face, as her fans know, the gal can really act, and in these farces often proves herself to be a wickedly funny comedienne. This film also gives her a chance to look great while engaging in fisticuffs in an out-of-control airplane, while driving in a high-speed car chase through a rock quarry, and, well, in just about every scene she's in. Edwige buffs may be disappointed to learn that she doesn't appear IN the buff in this film (there's only one brief topless moment), but her sexy, lively and amusing character nonetheless makes the film something truly special. And the sight of Ms. Fenech and a big black mammy type singlehandedly mopping the floor with a rival gang is one you won't soon forget! All in all, a silly movie, but still, sexy fun.

After years of playing the terrified target of deranged killers in gialli, or the sex-object nurse, teacher, wife, girlfriend (like her secondary role in this movie), etc., it's nice to see Edwige Fenech in a role that gives her the chance to throw punches and outsmart the villains (not that it's very hard though, since they are all idiots!). And don't worry, she still gets to show plenty of her 4-star cleavage. She is much more lively and animated here than she is in her serious films. The film has some really crude gags, but a couple of genuine laughs as well (a sniper, aiming for Fenech, shoots a jogger in Central Park, the jogger falls down and Alvaro Vitali comments: "Wow, that guy is really out of shape!"). The production values are higher than usual for an Italian sex comedy: they include location filming in New York, some fairly elaborate stunts, and even a car chase at the end. Now, if only I could track down Edwige's two other Policewoman films.....(**)