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 is only for fans of the serial. But if you are one of them, this is a must. In this the absolute final Olsenbanden movie, there is room for everybody. All the actors who used to be in the serial in the old days are represented here. That is if they haven't died yet. Kirsten Walther (Yvonne) died a long time ago. And since Poul Bundgaard (Keld) died during the filming, and Bjørn Watt-Boolsen (Bang-Johansen) just died yesterday (5/1 99), there will never be any more Olsenbanden movies. But even though this was not one of the best, I think it was a nice way to say goodbye to Egon Olsen. (And also to the actor Ove Sprogø, since this is supposed to be his last public appearance.)

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.

A sad and pathetic ending to the franchise.

They were clearly too old to play their roles like they used to. When one of the leads died during filming the already weak script had to be rewritten, obviously affecting the end product in a negative way.

Finally, what used to be funny gags etc. had changed since the last movie. 17 years is a long time in comedy and The Olsen Gang just wasn't funny anymore.