Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"3 Türken & ein Baby" is a German movie from last year (2015) that tuns for approximately 100 minutes (including credits) and was co-written and directed by Sinan Akkus, a Turkish filmmaker who is also an actor and who may be known especially to people who watched "Stromberg" as Akkus plays Turculu in there. But back this one here. It's a live action film of course and it is about a trio of Turkish brothers and the baby they end up with for a while. It's maybe Akkus' most known work by now. In the face of Schweg(höf)er comedies these days, it is nothing new that there is also almost always a dramatic component in these comedy films and this is also the case here. It is about taking responsibility, about dead parents, the family business, fatherhood, religion (maybe) and there are more aspects that were more about drama than about comedy. I personally find it a bit of a pity that these film(maker)s always try so hard to be relevant really as if it wasn't enough to entertain audiences for 1.5 hours through comedy only. Of course, it's also a challenge.This film here is a challenge too as it relies on a depiction that lets the audience care for the trio, even like them. But there are problems with all of the main actors/characters. The main problem with Kostja Ullmann is of course that he does not look or appear like a Turk at all. Apart from that, he is not a good actor either. Luckily, he was not as bad in here as he was in other projects, but he was still very forgettable and should not be cast in lead roles anymore. For a long time actually. As for Kida Khodr Ramadan, I think he is the most talented from the trio, but he also had some weak moments here. This also had a lot to do with the script of course. His anger problems never felt really authentic or believable and his love relationship was admittedly really really weak, maybe the worst part of the entire film. But I have no doubts that he is a much better actor than he shows us in here. And finally, as for Eko Fresh, he is a rapped and not really an actor. He did okay with the material he was given, but this was admittedly not a lot and many scenes from him also involved music-related content, so they could make use/fun of his talent.So overall, I cannot say I am impressed with the acting in here, even if you have to hold in the cast's favor that the script is nothing convincing either. There were okay moments here and there for sure, but this is almost a given for a film at 100 minutes. But there were even more really disappointing references and developments. Coincidence is frequently a big problem in this genre here in Germany and this felt very true with this film here as well, especially in terms of KKR's character's romance plot. There are other moments when this film struggles a lot. You will know what I mean when you see them. The film actually starts off kinda solid, but quickly takes a turn for the worse and I would not recommend watching it. Thumbs-down from me and this is nowhere near the best Germany offers in terms of comedy, not even from recent years.I cannot say I am surprised though as many films focusing on multi-cultural plot stories had been extremely underwhelming recently. The subject may be relevant right now, also with what happened yesterday for example, but it does not make up for the lack of a convincing plot. Stay away.
