wahlker827

An utterly charming movie on how a dysfunctional family goes through the growing pains together. The family patriarch Mr. Zenker is a wayward fashion sales rep caught up in a career crisis. He is failing as a father and husband, not least due to his self importance and reluctance to change. Edgar Selge's portrayal of this caricature-like character is phenomenal. While all the heavy-lifting performance falls on Edgar, Florian Bartholomäi's approaches Karsten just as masterfully with great tenderness and subtelty. They are the two clear standout actors in this film for me.

It is not surprising that this movie was quite polarizing on its audience. I think the suspension of disbelief is a must for the pure enjoyment of it. But for me personally, the absurdism of the plot is balanced out by the realism imbued into each character. I absolutely adore this movie.

I am honestly quite overwhelmed by how good this movie is. Coming out is an overused trope that can easily be banal and trite if not handled masterfully. This film smartly avoids that by focusing on both Adam and his friends' growths following the revelation. It explores the themes of friendship, romance, and family with humor and tenderness.

Great performances from the cast. Evan Todd and Parker Young are the standouts. Chord Overstreet and Jon Gabrus also bring to life two well-written bantering bro dudes. Although the gay stereotypes abound, it doesn't feel too forced or offensive. Though not groundbreaking, script is very witty and fun.

The first two minutes of this movie already took me off guard. Probably the most atrocious voice-over work I have ever heard in professionally made films. Hedy Nasser lacks the basic ability to emote in her narration. It is so bad that I was genuinely amused for a moment.

Fortunately the movie picks up a bit afterwards (I mean how can it not but still). It is a sweet little story about rekindled love and finding roots. I also quite enjoyed Jonathan Stoddard's performance. Supporting characters are fun to watch and provide some much needed levity. For some scenes the dialogues are obviously re-recorded afterwards, which sounds too whispery and stands out like a sore thumb.

I really wanted to like it. But the production just screams amateurish. Awful sound quality and a weak female lead let this movie down.