Bitange i princeze

Amazing charachters , great episodes.. It is the best croatian serie ever . All the actors are super amusing.

The "famous" TV sitcom that gets on the nerves of literally the entire nation. Acting at below average (high school) level. It should be something funny, but it's all stiff jokes and scenes that aren't actually funny are actually boring. This series is on the verge of being unwatchable, but it really is. This is one of those national TV sitcoms that are interesting for maybe the first ten episodes of the first season, and later they just insist that it be filmed and that there is something on the program. I have to admit that I am surprised by the rating of eight stars, this does not deserve even three stars.

This is Croatia's almost-first sitcom (the first one supposedly being "Our little clinic"). It IS the first one that heavily borrows from American sitcom lore, especially "Friends" which was its primary inspiration.

The show concentrates on five main characters, three guys and two girls who live in neighboring apartments. They are Teo (a dopey guy who was just dumped by his girlfriend), Robi (a little dumb wannabe act..ahem, anchorman who has a "way" with girls), Kazo (a geeky guy who cannot get a date), Irena (a ditsy looker) and Lucija (confused romantic). In other words, they are just a Monica away from a full cast.

Although it looks like a typical "Friends" setup, the show really doesn't have that much in common with that beloved American sitcom apart from the original premise. Even though the main plot is supposed to be about relationships between the characters, the show is unfortunately plagued by the recent unwritten Croatian rule which states that in order for situation to be funny it absolutely needs to be a convoluted and unbelievable mess and must contain some serious overacting. So as the story goes it turns out that Teo's ex-wife is dating a mobster who has a gay twin brother who fruther on has interests in Robi. Furthermore, in a surprising turn of events Teo becomes the mobster's defense attorney, and at the same time Robi (as sport anchorman) gets an assignment to interview Teo's girlfriend and shows up at her house at the same time Teo and the mobster are there. And all this in the first two episodes with some more additional happenings on the side. These kind of setups allow some funny moments, but are at the same time so ridiculous it is very hard to suspend disbelief and start caring for the characters. The fact that the main roles are played by probably the two most prominent TV persona in Croatia also doesn't help much.

As its main competition, "Our little clinic", this show also reaps the success mostly by walking over the corpses of previous Croatian "sitcoms" which were simply dreadful. In other words, there are a few laughs here and there and the show is good for killing half an hour or so if you have nothing better to do, but other than that it's nothing to write home about. If you are not Croatian, an average American sitcom would probably be a much better choice.

Bitange i princeze (Bumps and Princesses) is a new Croatian sitcom inspired by everyone's favorite FRIENDS. The show is about a problems of group of young people starting a new life on their own by moving into the same building, where they'll have to learn about each other and discover new romances. The main characters are, among others, Robi (The eternal student), very fresh and in constant fight with sexy Irena (not too bright, but possible Robies love interest) There is also Irena's roommate a girl who work's in a video store and is in love with Kazo. A Lawyer Teo has been kicked out by his wife and is moving in with Robi and his best friend Kazo.

A lot of Croatian celebrities appear in the guest roles, such as Nina Badric, Indira Vladic-Mujkic (Colonia), Dusko Curlic...among others

As well as Europe (politically West - East, economically North - South), Yugoslavia was divided in two very different regions. West - Slovenia and Croatia - were catholic countries, throughout the history turned to Middle Europe, to Vienna, Prague or Venice where most influence was arriving from. East - all others - were Orthodox or Moslem, with relations to Moscow, Istanbul and maybe Athens. And one of the main differences: because of their way of life and traditions West was considered urban, East rural.

And now an absurd situation occurred: Serbia was producing urban type of humor in TV serials, including the first sitcom and the best comedy serial made in Yugoslavia ever, 'Pozoriste u kuci' ('Theatre At Home'). In the same time (70's) Croatia made two great comedy serials settled far away from towns: 'Nase malo misto' on small Adriatic island and 'Gruntovcani' in a poor Panonian village.

Finally, almost a decade and half after leaving Yugoslavia and after at least a dozen failed attempts, Croatia managed to produce a real urban sitcom. Though a basic idea was borrowed from 'Friends' similarities diminish as the number of episodes increase. This is typical Zagreb with typical Zagrebian situation and people mixed from those who, born here, follow its traditions, and those who came recently carrying legacies of their provinces. But, unlike average Croatian production, it would be still understandable to wider audience, if it ever reached it.

Too many "bad language" may be too offensive, but it is a sad reality: people talk that way, and not only in Croatia. This language seems to be normal, usual in all other genres, so isn't it a kind of hypocrisy if we blame using it in sitcoms? I'd rather blame those who use it in buses, markets, beaches... You can't turn the sound off nor change the channel there.

Very good actors - but there was never a lack of them in Croatia. The pleasant change is a good script, dialogues that no American sitcom would be ashamed of, well balanced timing and rhythm, stories that successfully range from realistic to absurd. This is also the first serial in Croatia that enters second season (and possible some more in years to come), so it is hard to predict how would it develop and whether it will keep the same quality. But if you like sitcoms and an opportunity ever appears, give a chance to this one and you might find that good sitcoms are not limited only to USA. At least the first (and beginning of second) year.