Manta, Manta

This movie is extremely amusing, and might be more amusing to the dutch than to the germans. Part of the fun is the recognition of stereotypes: these guys really exists in Holland, Germany and probably Belgium, although they are often ruder and less sympathetic than the ones in the movie.

This is one of my all time favorites. Growing up with the Opel Manta as the car to have, I've even owned a few my self. One of my buddies actually bought "Berti's " manta from the film.

Anyway. The movie is extremely goofy, and Germans don't always know how to put in funny elements into a film. That taken aside the movie is still goofie. But think back. 1991! What kind of close did you where back then, and what colour was your hair ? And then there is the whole Manta Manta thing.. Thats why the movie is worth to watch. It actually has some car chases that are quite good, and the guy doing the stunts eventually came to do some of the car stunts on The Fast and the Furious.

The scene where Berti's Manta drives under a lorry was replicated some 10 years later in TFATF..

For me this movie is a walk back memory lane. The movie might be a eye roller if you're under the age of 25, or over the age of 45 but the ones that remember the late 80's and early 90's will definitely get a good laugh or two :o)

This is the ultimate film for a true carlover. Though lots of people might disagree on this point with me. Yes it's a german flick, but hey what the heck, it doesn't even matter if you understand anything said in this film, the racing is just so cool. It is a compilation of true oldschool streetracing. Sure the plot ain't all that, it's just all about the cars, which are simply affordable for most people and that makes it all the more interesting! I've seen enough fancy films with unaffordable monstercars, Manta Manta is just the real thing.

I'll have to agree with some people on this forum that this movie is probably the MOST interesting for german or Dutch people.

if you ever get the opportunity to get your hands on this film, be sure not to miss it. Just give it a try and you'll be surprised!

"Manta, Manta" is lame and embarrassing in so many ways. What kind of derelict comes up with the idea of making a film about Manta obsessed German villagers and actually allows the hero to drive around in a pink, blue and yellow car? "Manta, Manta" is so cringe-worthy that it will give you wrinkles. And yet, I simply can't get enough of this addictively stupid, piece of crap. Even the ridiculous soundtrack is a guilty pleasure.

"Manta, Manta" represents the cinematic debut of Til Schweiger, after his run on "Lindenstrasse". He plays Bertie, a Manta driving idiot who challenges a Mercedes driving yuppie to a race, much to the annoyance of his peroxide blonde girlfriend, Uschi. Uschi, in turn, is asked to take part in a wet t-shirt competition by a Ferrari driving stranger who mistakes her for a prostitute as she waits for the bus. The plot becomes even more ludicrous when Bertie's friend Gerd falls in love with a radio reporter on an anti-Manta crusade.

This film is the reason why I became a Til Schweiger fan. He displays some of his future potential and definitely looks like a movie star, but his performance here is dreadful to the point of being hilarious. Bertie's drunken trip to the anti-Manta radio station is a fantastic low in modern German cinema. It's amazing to see how far Til has come since this trash - well, with the exception of "Driven", which is really "Manta, Manta" with better cars but without the charm.

In addition to the chance of watching a young and clueless Til, the movie also offers some great car chases and some of the worst fashion ever captured on film. I am fully aware that "Manta, Manta" is utter crap but that has never stopped me from enjoying it. Fans of bad movies and undiscerning rev-heads will be glad to have spent 87 minutes of their time with Bertie and his loser friends.

So first of all, what do people expect from a car tuning/racing comedy from the beginning of the 1990s? I hope not, Francis Ford Coppola worthy acting and family dinners that drag on for half an hour. Take it with a grain of salt, for what it is.

As part two , which I never expected, just hit the streaming services (in this case SKY), I felt like watching the original, to prepare. And it paid off well. Being born in 1980, the first film was part of my youth and we watched it a couple of times, having drinks and laughing about it all. What I did not remember, was the deeper sense of it, and Klausi being the not obvious hero.

Honestly it is not an eight star movie, but considering the bad reviews and harsh words that it got by some of my peer critics, I felt like being generous.

An absolute cult classic for anyone from a german speaking background born around the time.

Thanks for the memories really.