Gorko!

A Russian here. A lot of fellow Russians criticize the movie for a) bad characters and focus on bad side of the national character, b) "dumb" comedy. I have to say, a) the movie is obviously made from the point of view of a more educated and cultured person, which is easy to share, and why not laugh at dumb people once in a while anyway? b) Yes, the humor is rather sit-com-yelling, but it fits the situation well, and it only builds tension, rather than other Russian movies that build tension and then discharge it by just calming down or making smart meta-comments aimed at the viewer.

A young couple wants a modern-like modest and picturesque wedding, while their parents want a traditional drink-a-bucket-of-vodka-have-cossacks-choir-invite-respectful-men-and-a-star-presenter ceremony. All these characters and situations are very, very plausible.

The plot gets only tenser with time, with all quite real things thrown in together: the authoritative traditional-family father yelling, the lower-class relatives, that you never see in your life, coming and making a mess, etc.

All of this is only slightly an exaggeration, and the editor made a good job making it fun. Although the humor is a usual Russian situation comedy, it's done pretty well, without the typical self-proud hey-viewer-look-how-we're-smarter-than-them winking that other Russian comedy movies usually do.

The movie obviously borrows a lot from Lars von Trier's "Idiots", but that does not distract, but rather adds to the atmosphere. The only drawback was that the ending scene is really pathetic, striking-out all the tension and momentum that was built up before. This is very Russian to say "no, forget all that". Lars von Trier, in "The Idiots", on the contrary, after a lot of spassing, makes a huge leap forward and opens you up a very dreadful situation to think about.

Weddings and funerals are the main celebrations among Eastern Europeans, so don't judge too harshly - the choice of venue for celebration is a matter of vital importance. It's interesting how the main characters tried to please their parents choice, while still wanting to fulfill their cherished dream. If the surrealism of Russian weddings is exaggerated, it's only a little - after attending a couple of such events, you'd understand. It's a shame that these traditions are fading away. The humor is very subtle, perhaps only understandable to russian speakers grown up with similar cultural code, "if you know, you know.":)

I don't know why this film has a rating of 5.5 stars here on IMDB. I don't know why it has a rating at all: out of 10 stars, it deserves 0. Unless your definition of a comedy is people shouting annoyingly and drinking all the time, you wouldn't find it funny or entertaining.

Arguably, it is a semi-accurate portrayal of a provincial Russian wedding, with parents wanting a big pompous event for the whole family and disregarding the wishes of the newly-wed couple themselves, but... So what? Literally, what's the point, what are they trying to say?

"Gorko!" fails to make a statement, to develop this wedding situation in whatsoever way, it literally just films it, and that's it. Beside some flat and weak jokes (like the one about parasites) being repeated over and over again, there isn't much of a comedy element in there. Characters? Poorly written and illogical; if they inspire any feelings in the viewer, it's the feeling of annoyance and tiredness. I don't enjoy screaming and howling characters, I don't find them funny. I don't like hysterical characters, either. Maybe someone likes it in a comedy, but not me. Especially when the whole "comedy element" relies on that - on that, and on the excessive alcohol consumption. Speaking of which...

It's true that a lot of comedies rely on a heavy consumption of alcohol (see Hangover) or drugs (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), but it's because it either helps establish a comedic character (like in Whithnail and I) or leads up to a farsical situation (as in said Hangover). But the sheer process of drinking, what's funny about that? You can see people drinking heavily in a pub at their night out; you wouldn't film it and label it as a "comedy". Why do it to a wedding? You would think that it would lead up to some conflict of situations, or provide the unexpected and funny plot developments, but no. As I said previously, "Gorko!" fails to make use of that.

The plotline is straight, flat, uninteresting and unredeeming. Everyone drinks, fights, acts like alcohol-crazed pigs, and then... Suddenly (and without any reason or explanation whatsoever!) everything is fine, everyone loves each other again, and basically ignore what's been going on for the whole duration of this "film". It's like they ran out of ideas (read: cocaine) and had to come up with a denouement on the spot. It went poorly. As did the whole film.

View at your own discretion, but be warned: unless you find obnoxious screaming, grimacing, hysterical fits and incessant drinking funny, you won't enjoy this meaningless and tasteless production of yet another money-grabbing director. My verdict: 0/10, would erase my own memory and never watch it again.

I'm really disapointed, that they could not set fighting scenes right, cause it does negative effect on the impression about this movie. Overall fine, but not fun at all. I felt the infinite power of cringe, my face was so alive, during this movie, well it's not the emotions i want to get and people to see, but, there is something in this movie, true life depicted

"Kiss Them All!" - The best Russian comedy of the past decade directed by Zhora Kryzhovnikov. The crazy story of a wedding in the southern coastal town, the news of which was invited by the famous Moscow showman. Complete immersion of the audience in the atmosphere of the ever-drunken heroes of the film, headed by the main actor, Sergei Svetlakov, who played himself.