“Don Matteo: Season 9” – TV Series Review

If you’re in the mood for light-hearted mysteries with an engaging cast of characters, the subtitled Italian TV series “Don Matteo: Season 9” may suit your fancy. No TV program runs for over 20 years and 260+ episodes in ANY country without considerable merit. Iconic actor Terence Hill stars as the priest in a little village who can’t help becoming a murder magnet, constantly involved in solving the crime of the day, usually to rescue one of his wrongly-accused parishioners. The local cops alternately rely on and resent his sleuthing, but it always leads to the right result within an hour of air time.

Hill became a global star in the 1970s largely from his wonderful comedic Spaghetti Westerns (most notably the TRINITY flicks), among many pairings with Bud Spencer. The latter usually played a burly, grumpy sidekick to Hill’s playful lead in many successful light adventures, whether situated in the Old West or a variety of contemporary settings. Hill’s charming characters invariably faced life with a knowing smile and twinkling eyes that said he was capable of handling anything without taking it too seriously. In those days, his gift for physical comedy was also a large part of fun.

The 60-year-old Hill, who started this series in 2000, eschewed most of the physical for this one, but still had that endearing look of warmth and humor that established him as the kind of priest any churchgoer would hope to find at the pulpit. He’s surrounded by a cast of characters who provide most of the comic relief as he solves a new crime each episode. Many of them have been around from the first season to this ninth of the twelve that have aired abroad to date. Though I was only able to screen four of its 26 episodes, fans can be assured of receiving the kind of stories and level of quality they expect from the first eight. Don Matteo moves to a new town, but remains surrounded by many of the old faces. In these episodes, the balance between Hill’s sleuthing and the mostly-comedic antics of the supporting cast tipped more towards the latter than when the series began.

Since each episode covers a new crime, there’s no pressure to binge. Leisurely tales can be savored at a leisurely pace. Those unfamiliar with this series might find it similar in tone and content to the long-running British series “Father Brown.” Both are bright, humble, insightful priests in small communities, surrounded by characters who help or hinder their efforts in solving murders and other felonies in a light-hearted, non-gory presentation. Both also get around mainly on bicycles. That English analog started in 2013 with 100 episodes to date. Both are still producing new shows in their homelands, and available in the U.S. on TV or streaming.

The only downside to the character of Don Matteo is that Hill is my senior by about eight years, but still looks like he could get on a horse, strap on a six-gun and dispatch any villains in his path. My delight in what he still brings to the screen, comes at the cost of feeling even older than I usually do. Your mileage may vary.

“Don Matteo: Season 9,” in Italian with English subtitles, is streaming on MHz Choice starting April 5.

RATING: 3 out of 4 stars