Olsen Bandens sidste stik

As a gigantic fan of the 13 original Olsen-Banden films, I had to see this even though I had very low expectations. However, I knew 5 minutes into this film that even those were not going to be met. The script is horrible and has nothing in common with the original films. Erik Ballings magic as a director is missing. Yvonne, an absolutely essential figure, is missing. And Balling's replacement director Tom Hedegaard managed to alienate even the peaceful Ove Sprogøe, who is rumored to have told him: "Don't bloody tell me what to do! I know what to do!". On top of this, Hedegaard died before shooting was finished and then Poul Bundgaard died from a heart attack two weeks before shooting was over and had to be replaced by Tommy Kenter. All in all, this project should never ever have been even considered.

Or to quote Ove Sprogøe, who actually said this to the the press after watching the film: "Utter sh*t!". The only reason this gets 2 instead of 1 is because the original three actors are in it.

Save your money and time - this is dog sh*t!

This movie is a must for any fans of Olsen Banden, not only because of all the tragic occurrences that happened during the shooting of the movie, but also as a fitting round-off to the series.

The use of ie. Nordisk Films Studios, and their prob-rooms, where Egon finds his old clothes and is transformed from an old infirm back to - almost - the Egon that we all loved, with his temper tantrums, ingenious plans and all is absolutely brilliant, although not terribly original. This scene has been seen in the movie: Chaplin starring Robert Downey Jr. Here he is in the prop-room, looking for a costume, and the clothes of the Vagabond "magically" beckons him.

However, while I left the movie very satisfied, and pleased with a movie that was clearly above what I had expected - read feared - let it be said that the action/plot is VERY thin, to quote Danny Glover and Mel Gibson "Anorexic", the plot appears to have been written as an excuse to get as many of the old cast from the previous movies back again in one movie, and this is in a sense what makes it so memorable. All plays as well as can be expected, although you also notice, that it has been many years, and at times they have problems getting in to the part, they then recite the lines, but without the wit and bite of the old movies.

The most memorable performance is probably made by Axel Strøbye as Kriminalassistent Jensen in his quest for retirement. The little man fighting the system, and finally succeding in winning.

It is a film that I wholeheartedly recommend other people to see, just be of an open mind when you see it, and don't expect magnificent scenes like the breakthrough under the Royal Theater.

This movie just shouldn't exist, as my mother explained.

Compared to the several previous entries in the series, the writing feels poor and contains way too much exposition (of a somewhat convoluted plot). Simultaneouly, we're getting references to privious characteres in the series, played by the actors - as a poor mans Danish riff Cravens "New Nightmare." This attempt mostly fall flat, as the movies also has covers 18 years of untold fictional story.

Cravens movie puts Freddy Krueger into the reel world, as does this. The major difference being, that here it just doens't work at all, because Olsen-Banden (the Olsen-Gang) are very two dimentional characters that works mostly just for comedic purporses (and that works to varyind degrees of well in the many previous entries.)

To add insult to injury, this movie is also very confused about whether it wants to play the scens for laughter or serious. The lightning and editing doens't match the previous films. I found myself both missing the soundtracks and Ove Sprogøs voice-over during the heists. Needless to say, I didn't finish the film. (although I could do that later.)

This movie is confused mess - the likely cause: Two deathc plagued the production of a close-knit crew.

The 14th and last film in the popular "Olsen-Banden" film series is a must see for fans of the series, but this film survives mostly on the fond memories of the earlier films. It´s 17 years since gang leader Egon Olsen was committed to a facility for the criminally insane. Here, he is brought on a Danish TV talk show to comment on the plight of elderly citizens. He is instantly recognized by fellow gang members, Kjeld and Benny, and the ol´ gang teams up for one final heist when Egon manages to escape. Sadly the gang must admit that they are not as fit as they used to be, but still manage to get into trouble. The cast is full of familiar faces from the series, and Axel Strøbye steals the show as "Jensen", and it´s nice to see Jes Holtsø (criminally underused as "Børge") but Kirsten Walther is sorely missed as "Yvonne".

Sadly, Poul Bundgaard´s real life health problems are all too apparent here, and he died during production, with half his scenes left to be filmed, leading to script changes, CGI magic and an unrecognizable Tommy Kenter standing in for the exterior shots. Tragically, director Tom Hedegaard, who was assistant director on most of the early films, died a week before shooting was to be completed. The remaining scenes were directed by Morten Arnfred. Cast veterans Bjørn Watt-Boolsen and Benny Hansen died shortly after the premiere. The final result is, while not terribly funny, still nostalgic and entertaining enough with a cast full of veterans doing what comes natural.

This is an attempt to revitalize a danish institution in movie history. Therefore my expectations were high and the judgement perhaps harsh. I don't think It really catches the old magic of the former films. Only in glimpse have the movie the humor that made Olsenbanden so popular in Denmark. The rest is pure nostalgia.