Matar é Meu Negócio, Querida

Rick Kavanian a very well known comedian in Germany is charming in his role. But with this charm and of course because this is a light-hearted comedy, much of his menace never appear on screen. How are you supposed to believe he is what he claims he is? But then again, does he need to be menacing? Or is it just about having fun?

That's a question you have to answer for yourself. As it is, it's a fun little movie, that almost serves up every cliché in the book. Well done maybe and often times quite funny, still there is nothing new to be found here. And while quite a few things are far stretched, you still have a likable cast here (which as mentioned sometimes contradicts itself, but again that's in the eye of the beholder).

It's always great to see people having fun making movies. If cast and crew have a great time, they typically produce either of two kinds of movie. Most are ends in themselves, made only for the sake of the making. But some manage to share the fun, leaving the audience amused and inspired. This is a movie of the second kind. I promise you will walk out with a smile on your face. It's thoroughly enjoyable, all the way from the opening credits to the bloopers. The story revolves around a secretive author's much-anticipated mafia book, but the plot is really beside the point. It is merely the pretext for a parade of skits and sketches that are genuinely funny, well-timed, lovingly staged and set to a fool-proof rat pack soundtrack. Much is borrowed from the masters of the genre, screwball stars like Peter Sellers, Louis De Funès and Didi Hallervorden. But it's all done with wit and panache and style. Sebastian Niemann directs a charming cast, many with a stand-up comedy background. Lovely Nora Tschirner, stuck in the corner of a love triangle that involves her boss and a contract killer, will totally break your heart in the part of the clumsy Cinderella. She is also great acting drunk. Fine performance by Janek Rieke in his trademark part of the lovable loser - ever a good friend, never the groom. Guest appearance by the eminent Bud Spencer as a blind barfly. Too bad his friend the bishop never shows during the furious showdown shoot-out.

I have seen this movie several times, and it had grown on me.

I mean, what can go wrong - it even has Bud Spencer and Franco Nero in it.

There are enough running gags and funny antics for two movies in this one, but unfortunately, German audiences are more used to US productions and their kind of humor. If you like old-school German comedies from the 60s-80s, you will be served a wonderful menu with great production values, good timing, original humor, and an abundance of recent and old guard stars of comedy.

Rick Kavanian's performance is gold, but also Nora Tschirner delivers perfectly in her former trademark role of the Clumsy Nerd. If you are a fan of either of them, go watch it.