MY NAME IS THOMAS Review: A Look Ahead to a Glorious Past

There was a time in which Terence Hill alongside his late buddy Bud Spencer ruled movie theatres and video stores around the planet with their amusing westerns and action comedies. It´s undeniable their importance as entertainers in movie history, and their responsability in the love of of cinema that millions of kids developed growing up. But nothing last forever, and their reign had to come to an end becoming a nostalgic memory of a longing past. Nonetheless, life went on and Terence transitioned from movie star to TV star, starring the long series Don Matteo on Italy national television, in the role of a local priest who solves crimes in the community.

“My name is Thomas” set the return of Hill to the big screen, to direct, write and star a really personal project that took him back to the desert of Almeria in Spain, where he shot some of his most memorable films. This film dedicated to his late friend and film sideckick Bud Spencer, feels like a sentimental trip to a place where Hill once found happiness, however, not looking back at it as the safe zone where to get stuck relying on the treachery tools of nostalgia, but looking at it as a new road to look ahead to whatever life and creativity may bring.

The plot revolves around Thomas (Terence Hill) on his trip riding his motorbike from Italy to Spain , in order to reach Almeria´s desert for sentimental reason. On the road, he meets a strange young runaway girl (Veronica Bitto) who joins him on a one way trip to self discovery and redemption.

This is a honest work full of good intentions in which the emotional side works perfectly fine with the audience, however, the portrayal of the characters feels somehow unfinished, we never get to know the motivations behind their acts, or the nature of their relationship, being the age gap gap between them a big issue to make their relationship believable.

Despite of that, its possible flaws doesn´t overshadows its virtues, and Hill shows his good manners as filmmaker , delivering a truly enjoyable product, with a perfect rythm, that drags you into a story that makes you want to discover more about the characters and being part of their odissey. But above all, having the chance of watching a new Terence Hil film is always a joy.