Verkehrte Welt

An excellent crime comedy with elements of drama, which keeps the viewer's attention throughout the movie. It is interesting to watch how the relationships of different characters develop and what it all leads to.

This movie is quite funny and at the same time serious. It skillfully mixes these parts and it turns out pretty seamlessly. I also liked the romantic and criminal parts. It all comes together into one plot as well. What's interesting is that all these genres appear in the right places.

With good music in context and some pretty good acting, I have faith in this movie. It's really not bad at all.

A lighthearted effort that manages to work as a comedy, romance, and heist film, which isn't easy to do. There are absurd moments but the plot is cohesive, flows well, and has no wasted action. What won me over were scenes like the acting lessons given by ex-convicts, which was funny, and the distraction ploy that suddenly got very real, which was unexpected and emotional. Anouk Grinberg is a delight and has a fine scene during a confrontation at the hospital too. And my goodness, there's Noemie Merlant again being amazing. Isn't she one to keep an eye on? Entertaining stuff from Louis Garrel.

I read critics lauding this film using superlatives like 'amazing', 'hysterically funny' and 'a delight'. With great hopes we handed over our money and went in. I enjoy French comedies but they have proven to be hit and miss over the years. This one is a big MISS. It's also a mess. The acting was fine, as was the plot, so what was it? I can only put it down to the script, direction and editing, which is pretty much most of how a film is made. Apart from not being even mildly humorous it was just so disjointed. Some scenes made little sense. I do give it points for the scene in the diner. That was quite well made and hinted at a completely other film the director might be more proficient at.

Even though the movie is rated as a comedy, 90% of it is drama, with only 2-3 scences with medium laugh. The action is surrounding the main character Abel, through the life of his newly married mother with an ex prisoner.

There are a few scenes that showcase love and appreciation, especially between elder people, which I find great because not a lot of movies are doing that.

The only funny character was Clemence, which is a secundary character with not a lot of screen time, but she ends up an important part in the plot.

I was expecting a lot more funny scences, as I had great experiences with some French movies, but even the music and the way it was filmed reminded me of a drama waiting to happen.

I really don't know what to think about it. What's this, a comedy, a thriller, a drama? It hesitates between all of those elements and that mixes me up. Good directing, good acting, but you always wonder what are you going to see, but this time in the not so good way. Because, I know, that most of time when you don't know what to deal with, it may be exciting. Not here. Sorry. But honestly, it is a good entertainment, it's impossible to get bored and that's the most important, no matter my sensitiviy and taste. After all, there is no rule in story telling, nothing at all prevents a story to be a mix up between comedy, horror, drama, crime, science fiction.... Nothing.