Dante is a kind hearted loser. His life is defined by his job (as a schoolbus driver for a school for the mentally handicapped), his friendship with one of his charges (with whom he shoplifts bananas), a pathetic insurance scheme, and his utter inability to get a woman. He is filled with hope one day when a beautiful, romantic, whimsical woman falls into his life and invites him to visit her at her villa in Sicily. Little does Dante know that lovely Maria (Nicoletta Braschi) is the wife of mafioso 'Johnny Stecchino', who has ratted out his cohorts and now lives in fear of his life. Dante and Johnny look exactly alike (no surprise, since they are both played by Roberto Benigni). Maria, Johnny and their 'medicine' taking lawyer hatch a plot to get Dante killed in place of Johnny. A comedy of errors ensues. I know the plot is trite, but it is pulled off with timing and comic genius.
have been here since I made this page.