Okay, so Duck, You Sucker... More Than Just Explosions?

Alright rom-com lovers, hear me out. I know, I know, *Duck, You Sucker* (Giù la testa) isn't exactly *When Harry Met Sally...* but I just finished watching it and I'm kinda obsessed? It's technically a spaghetti western set during the Mexican Revolution, all dust and dynamite, which is SO not my usual thing. But the relationship between Juan and John (Rod Steiger and James Coburn, respectively) is... strangely compelling. Like, they start off hating each other (classic rom-com trope, am I right?), but then they're forced to rely on each other, and you can totally see this weird affection brewing underneath all the macho posturing and, well, explosions. I'm genuinely curious, did anyone else pick up on what felt like a serious bromance (maybe even a little *more* than a bromance??). There's this scene where John tells Juan about his past, and it's surprisingly vulnerable. And Juan, Mr. Macho Bandit, actually *listens*. And then all that stuff they do together to fight those soldiers. It's not hearts and flowers but it felt like love in its own way. I mean, the whole movie is a very complicated, very explosive and very, well, masculine love story, I guess? I think some people get a little carried away with the politics or historical thing and overlook it. The action is great and the story is interesting but... am I imagining things, or could you totally see this as a weird, dark, and totally non-traditional romantic comedy if you squint a little? Is it just me who sees the romantic subtext in this insane film? Also, is it true Sergio Leone directed it? I forgot to look that up!