Toni Erdmann (2016)
A really, really bad practical joke.
Presentation:
I don’t normally post negative reviews especially when there are no interesting stills unless there’s a valid reason. Toni Erdmann happened to pop up on a certain “Top Films of All Time” list, to which I was genuinely appalled and gave me all the reason to change my mind. In terms of cinematography, this might be one of the ugliest looking films of the last decade. Meaningless handheld, no composition, directionless cinematography. All in an effort to evoke some humorous vibes for its modern narrative. I didn’t want to watch any trailers for this film due maximize its reputation for having a shocking twist. So during the film I felt this was a melancholy drama. You can imagine my surprise once I learned that this was intended to be a comedy because I didn’t laugh nor smirk at any point during this almost 3 hour ordeal. The only saving grace was one touching scene toward the end. But I’m positive that the 2 hour buildup was not worth it. Sandra Hueller is okay, I don’t personally like her style of characters, nor do I get German filmmaking sensibilities.
Conclusion:
You know what they say about German humor, right? Perhaps this film somehow Halo jumped over my head because I felt the humor could not possibly be meant for anyone under the age of 50. But if one is old enough to have a daughter of such age, this does touch upon poignant themes that are bound to come with aging. For me, this was like attending bingo night, except you’re playing alone. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, and nothing did except for formulaic drama elements. A really, really weak practical joke.
Recommendations
A really, really bad practical joke.