Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Männerpension" is a 90-minute movie from 1996, so this one has its 20th anniversary this year. It is a German production and also in the German language. The director and also the writer is Detlev Buck, one of Germany's most established filmmakers, already at that point back then I guess. Here he worked with Eckhard Theophil who is also not an entire nobody. Theophil also plays a small role, but Buck himself plays even one of the main characters here. He sure is a prolific actor as well and he may even give the best performance in the film. There is no need for him to hide behind the likes of Schweiger, Bäumer or Makatsch. On the contrary. I would say that he is easily better than Bäumer and she never impressed me as an actress. This film here does not change my perception. As for Makatsch, she has okay performances, but she is also not really good in here, just better than Bäumer. Schweiger is okay and has solid chemistry with Buck, but the fact that his character was trying to get together with the really bland Bäumer's character took away a lot from the appeal. The story between Makatsch's and Buck's character was probably more interesting. But the whole thing admittedly felt as if it sacrificed all kinds of realism and authenticity for comedic purposes. Sometimes it worked out and the movie does have fun moments at times, but it's far from enough to let me ignore the major criticism I just mentioned. As with Buck, it is always mostly comedy with occasional dramatic moments. There is even a character that gets killed in here, which is serious, but still it does not take away from the overall lightness. The romance is also one of the film's biggest weaknesses. I am sad that I have to say that it is sometimes as bad as schmaltzy cheesy television films and the superior comedy cannot make up for that. I like Buck as a filmmaker and as an actor and quite enjoyed some of the stuff he has done, but this one here from early in his career may be him still a while away from his best years. I give it a thumbs down. Not recommended.
