Das perfekte Geheimnis

This movie is impressive, but not in the way that (the presumably paid) positive reviews put it. It is the most forced drama I ever witnessed on screen, with laughably stupid dialogue, a "twist" that you can see a mile ahead and banal moral lesson at the end. The whole script is basically one tired cliché after another, taken straight out of a telenovela, and induces lethal levels of cringe from start to end. I sincerely don't understand how anyone can manage suspension of disbelief, as the premise is unrealistic, especially more so as the story progresses.

Of course, to satisfy the Current Thing, the "good guy" turns out to be someone other than what he appears to be, and cheap shots are fired at the "bigots", so that the intellectually lazy can pat themselves on the shoulder. This stands in contrast to the cynical and unlikeable way the "friends" interact with each other for the whole evening. There is overt ridicule, backstabbing, envy and just plain aggression that in the real world would turn friends to enemies in a second, but apparently not in this parallel universe of make-belief scriptwriting.

The camera work was okay, the acting mixed with some good and bad outliers, but there is no way to save the viewer from an overdose of Fremdscham. Take this as a warning and spend your time in some superior way, eg getting drunk at the gas station with cheap Lambrusco.

Perfekte Geheimnis" ist eine oft komische Komödie. Der Film basiert auf der zuerst in einem italienischen Kinodrama aus dem Jahr 2016 ausprobierten Idee, dass eine Abendessengesellschaft aus dreieinhalb befreundeten Pärchen sämtliche Handys auf den Tisch legt und jeden Anruf, jede Text- oder Bild-Nachricht im Kollektiv entgegennimmt.

Die Smartphones seien die "Flugschreiber unseres Lebens", behauptet die von Jessica Schwarz gespielte Psychotherapeutin Eva zu Beginn des Films. Offenbar unterstellt sie nicht nur ihrem Mann Rocco, den sie neuerdings "penetrant gutgelaunt" findet, dass sich auf seinem Mobilgerät Belege für peinliche Unternehmungen finden könnten. Alle Schauspieler sind wirklich gut und Ihre Leistingen fast perfekt.

Don't expect deep truth or drama, this movie is probably the best German sitcom you'll ever encounter and the closest a German script comes to the early Woody Allen. The basic idea (don't show ur mobile to your partner) is not too clever and according to another review has been screened before, but the actors play well, not all of the story's twists are predictable and I enjoyed the movie. Most of the jokes are about sex but you have to lack any sense of humor if you find them offensive or against heteros or homos. Take it for what it is, a light comedy.

German comedies are rare in Germany. Or rather, good German comedies are rare. What the author Bora Dagtekin shows us here is a wonderfully thought-out film that takes place almost exclusively in one room. Seven friends meet for dinner and put their cell phones on the table. No more secrets. The film is meticulously thought out and exciting until the end. The actors carry the story excellently and are wonderfully cast. Anyone who wants to see a good German film again, this is the right one.

Kinda stupid, SUPER constructed and an underwhelming. But nevertheless, really entertaining.

Lau, Schwarz and Möhring are great, Herfurth is excellent. Haase is solid. M'Barek lacks and Fitz comes short. Not a surprise though.

There's really not much sense in talking about the story. It's adapted, it's constructed all the way through.

The first hour is great, honestly.

But where most movies do wrong, aka drag on for too long in the middle, "Das perfekte Geheimnis" does the opposite. The pace picks up IMMENSELY during the end of the second act, unfortunately. Leading to a very rushed ending and therefore, an unsatisfying conclusion.

Leaves a bad taste in the mouth and would otherwise have definitely earned an 8/10.

The lighting is so very artificial, but a casual viewer won't notice. Some minor technical issues.

Overall, refreshing and quite entertaining.

But having 80% of Germany's A-Class in a single movie will do the trick. Seems like a big friendship project and less like Constantin Film's usual lazy cash grab.

The prejudice, the lobbyism and privilege still shines through underneath all the pseudo-awareness of social issues.

7 rich people doing superficial stuff. Am I talking about the characters or the actual actors? Who knows.

Enough of the critique.

Finally a funny German comedy.

7/10.