Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Germanikus" is a German movie from 2004, so this one will have its 15th anniversary two years from now. The director is Hanns Christian Müller and if you are a German film buff, you will immediately make a connection to actor Gerhard Polt and rightfully so, because Polt is one of several writers here and he also plays the title character in here. Gisela Schneeberger is on board as always too next to Polt and you will see several known faces here like Engelke, Bleibtreu, Hermann, Schneider, Sözer and more, even if most of them only have one-scene performances. But it shows how respected Polt is today, even a long long time after his peak. It was a tough decision here, but I need to give this film a thumbs-down. There are some good moments without a doubt and a few pretty creative ideas for sure. I also liked the introduction and epilogue by Polt himself, especially the prologue and it helped in understanding that the film does not want to be taken seriously at all. The long middle part that is set centuries back in the past has also a great deal of interhuman conversations and communication in it and the fact that it is not Polt's best is just because his best is great and this is only good. But sadly, the film also went over the top on many occasions and yes, it is supposed to be taken lightly, but it just wasn't funny enough and you could see frequently shots at comedy gone wrong. Not really wrong, but unsuccessful lets say. There were some moments when I felt Polt was crucial to the overall film, but there were also others when I thought that he did not make a difference at all and others could have played the part as/equally well. It's certainly not as defining a film for Polt as some other works written by him. It's without a doubt better and more creative than Und Äktschn!, but not good enough overall. I suggest you skip these pretty short 80 minutes and watch something else instead.
t_atzmueller
For decades Gerhard Polt, together with the likes of Loriot or Dieter Hildebrandt, has been a pinnacle of intellectual humour. The American reader may compare the style of George Carlin to that of Carrot Top and then compare Polts humour to your average German slapstick performers, who generally steal their material from US-TV anyway. Polts wit was unique, sharply observing and reflecting his middle-class Bavarian background in a way that few others were capable (or even dared).Having mentioned George Carlin (or take if you like Seinfeld or Richard Pryor), imagine them acting like the silliest copy of Peewee Herman, in a movie that not only features Carrot Top BUT also Tom Green and Ernest P. Worrell! You might imagine that the film was directed by the bozos who committed those "Epic Movie"-films but to your disgust, once the credits roll, you discover that the atrocity had been filmed by Blake Edwards. Not a very dignifying thought, I know, but to mention dignity and "Germanikus" in one review is a paradox in itself.We're told the simple yarn of Germanikus (Polt, unfortunately), a rather incompetent member of a German tribe who, through the most unlikely of circumstances, twists and many flat jokes, becomes the emperor of Rome. The road is littered with cameo appearances of many, many currently fashionable slapstick- and stand-up comedians and even less fashionable comedians, hoping for some promotion.To his credit it must be said that Polt looks uncomfortable at all times, perhaps owning his friend and partner Hanns Christian Müller a favour. Or perhaps Müller witnessed Polt committing murder with a chainsaw and used that to blackmail Polt into the role. No less uncomfortable in her quasi-Asterix costume looks Gisela Schneeberger, having played Polts wife for the past three decades, she might have decided that there was no good reason for breaking a habit. Or perhaps the three of them just needed the money.I can honestly say that I recommend virtually everything Polt-related. "Kehraus", "Herr Ober", "Man spricht Deutsh" or the cult TV-series "Fast Wie im Richtigen Leben"; all are highlights of German… sorry, my bad, Bavarian comedy. Listen to all the audio-books and watch his stand-up show wherever he may appear. They are as brilliant as they have been for the past 40 years. Just, whatever you do, avoid "Germanikus" like the plague.
FakeShemp-1
What happens when a genius of satire collides with popular comedians of German TV...? Not necessarily something good. The comedy-content is very poor and looks like thrown in just for commercial reasons to fit into the successful tradition of other German comedy-movies of the last years. But it's done very poor. Flat humour is not Polt's and his director's (Hans Christian Müller) cup of tea who have made great satires together in the 70ies/80ies for TV and the big screen. And because the comedy in "Germanikus" is loud and in the foreground, Polts more subtle ideas get almost erased totally here. I feel sorry for Polt because for me he always was and still will be the better and far more intelligent alternative to flat German comedy. Strangely, here he has delivered exactly what he does not stand for. This movie should be buried really deep. Gerhard Polt in his earlier films and especially on stage is a whole different world. A delight! But this movie here is torture. It was maybe messed up by too many cooks with too many differing interests. At least, it only can get better now! ;)
NemoAB
Polt is telling a fairy tale, a dream he had of how he became emperor of Rome 2000 years ago. The time is cruel, bad luck if you are a slave. Germanikus is enslaved by the Romans. He is not very bright, but stumbles through the scenes and while a lot of the other slaves got killed sooner or later, he survives and makes it to the top. The movie is just entertainment, it has no special meaning (as far as I can tell). And I admit: I did laugh at several points. The use of dialect doesn't bother me, I don't think that Polt can do without. But the dialect is not the source of fun in this film.Most of the comedians playing other minor roles don't have the room to deliver fun or even a personality. They just appear and say some lines. The focus is just on Polt. Many flaws to be a good movie.There are other movies out there which are really tasteless and disgusting. This one isn't that bad. It deserves 4/10. :-)
