As a film, Smetto Quando Voglio elects to use a different type of humor than traditionally seen in comedies, or at least the Western comedies we are used to. It avoids almost all slapstick and joke driven scenes, and has its comedic basis in the situations it presents. Comedy, as a device, can be very purpose driven and used to introduce topics of a more serious nature. By definition, a comedy simply has to lead to a happy or joyous ending, but it is often understood to be more nowadays. The use of comedy in a social issue can make it easier to talk about and more approachable, while minimizing the amount of offense at the directed target. Smetto Quando Voglio takes this comedic approach to the issue of academia in Italy. As a professor, Pietro is unable to make a live-able wage, and resorts to selling drugs. While the director could have approached this script in a serious manner, the absurdism of a teacher turning to a drug dealer, and the grandiose nature of their operation more effectively communicates the intended message to the audience. By posing things in extremes, it is easier to get people to sympathize with your issue, along with more easily spreading awareness. While the film does this very well, there are still some issues with how it is written. Even as a character in a comedy, Pietro is not a very compelling protagonist. He suffers from many things, but it is mostly the composition of his personality in juxtaposition with his new “employment”. Pietro is introduced as a character that is feeble, goofy, and lacks confidence. He stumbles over his words and is a push over, as can be seen in his relationship with Giulia, and his presentation at the beginning of the film. It is not very realistic to believe that a person such as Pietro could mastermind a drug operation, much less organize and manage it. In this, the film sacrifices some of its realism, however the greater argument made is not invalidated, and it still serves as a convincing statement against the Italian educational system.
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