Odds and Evens

Odds and Evens

Year: 1978

Runtime: 115 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Sergio Corbucci

ActionComedyCrime

The most unlikely pair ever to take on the mob! A bumbling government agent recruits a trucker whose gambling knowledge can help crack an illegal Florida operation.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Odds and Evens (1978)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Odds and Evens (1978). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Miami, Florida, Cruise ship in international waters

The story unfolds primarily in Miami, Florida, a bustling port city known for its nightlife and casinos where illegal betting rings operate. The action also shifts to a cruise ship moored in international waters, serving as the mobile base for Paragoulis' gambling empire. Key set-pieces include a flashy horse race and a car rally, underscoring the film's high-stakes, crowd-pleasing underworld world.

🏝️ Florida 🛳️ Cruise ship 🌴 Miami

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:48

Main Characters – Odds and Evens (1978)

Meet the key characters of Odds and Evens (1978), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Johnny Firpo (Terence Hill)

A US Marine from Miami tasked with busting the illegal gambling ring. He uses cunning and strategic misdirection to manipulate events, even disguising his motives from those around him. The revelation of his half-brother connection to Charlie adds personal stakes to the caper, fueling his drive to outsmart the criminals.

🧭 Clever 🪖 Marine veteran 👥 Family-connection twist

Charlie Firpo (Bud Spencer)

A gambler turned trucker who has given up gambling, yet becomes entangled in Johnny's plan. He is gruff and stubborn, but deeply loyal to family. The arrangement forces him to act against his own principles, creating tension and eventual collaboration with his brother.

🎯 Gambler-turned-trucker 🧱 Stubborn 👥 Loyal brother

Paragoulis the Greek (Luciano Catanacci)

A ruthless crime boss behind the international gambling ring and the cruise ship's poker games. He commands a crew of henchmen and treats the ship as a floating fortress for his operation. His hubris leads to a decisive confrontation with the Firpo brothers.

🕴️ Crime boss 🎭 Deception master ♟️ Gambling empire

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:48

Major Themes – Odds and Evens (1978)

Explore the central themes of Odds and Evens (1978), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👨‍👦 Family

Two brothers, Johnny and Charlie Firpo, are bound by blood even as they turn against one another's assumptions and schemes. The plot hinges on their uneasy alliance and the eventual reveal of their kinship, adding emotional stakes to the caper. The film uses this family bond to drive the deception and cooperation that culminate in confronting the crime ring.

🎲 Gambling

Gambling is the central engine of the plot, with illegal sweepstakes, horse racing, and poker games driving the action. The brothers exploit betting odds and gambling know-how to outwit Paragoulis and his crew. The cruise ship's poker games amplify the tension as fortunes swing with each hand.

🕵️ Deception

Deception is a recurring tactic as Johnny hides his true motive from Charlie and invents a ruse to recruit him. The brothers keep the con alive until the final showdown, using misdirection to keep their real objective hidden from the Mafia. This theme threads through battles, car rallies, and behind-the-scenes moves.

⚔️ Confrontation

The climax pits the Firpo brothers against Paragoulis and his henchmen in a high-stakes confrontation aboard a ship and in the surrounding waters. After a string of bets and betrayals, the brothers unite to roll up the illegal operation. The showdown delivers justice by dismantling the gambling ring.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:48

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Boisterous Action-Comedy Missions like in Odds and Evens

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows an improvised or unlikely mission to disrupt a criminal enterprise. The plot is driven by a series of escalating cons, chases, and confrontations, with humor consistently undercutting the tension. Character dynamics, often a mismatched pair, provide the core of the entertainment as they bicker and bond their way to a victorious, happy ending.

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Movies are grouped here by their shared vibe: a fast, fun pace, a light tone that treats serious subjects comically, and a focus on energetic action and cleverness over brutality or deep drama. The experience is consistently upbeat and adventurous.

Movies with Mismatched Partners like in Odds and Evens

An unlikely pair is thrust together, clashing their way through a high-stakes mission.Looking for movies similar to Odds and Evens? This thread focuses on stories about adversarial duos, like the bumbling agent and savvy trucker, who are forced to work together. Discover other comedies and action films where clashing personalities make the mission more chaotic and fun.

brotherlyadversarialcomedicconfidentunlikely alliancegrowthloyalty

Narrative Summary

The plot is built around the forced collaboration of two opposites. One is often more straight-laced or official, while the other is a rogue or expert from an unrelated field. Their journey is a series of comic misadventures and tense situations where their conflicting approaches create problems before eventually becoming their greatest strength, leading to a successful outcome and a solidified partnership.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a core character archetype pattern. The central appeal is the development of the relationship between the two leads, which provides both the primary source of humor and the emotional backbone of the story, regardless of the specific plot details.

Unlock the Full Story of Odds and Evens

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Odds and Evens Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Odds and Evens, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Odds and Evens Summary

Odds and Evens Timeline

Track the full timeline of Odds and Evens with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Odds and Evens Timeline

Odds and Evens Spoiler-Free Summary

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Odds and Evens Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Odds and Evens

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