Den gode strømer

I was so lucky to get a ticket for the preview in Aarhus, Denmark, where the team behind the movie presented it. Now those of you, who know Lasse Spang Olsen, know some of his other movies: "I kina spiser de hunde", "Gamle mænd i ny biler", "Jolly Roger" (I know there is more but these are the ones I've seen!). So I was looking forward to see this one. I must say I didn't know much about the movie before I went in to see it but I came out and was glad that I did. It is as Kim Bodnia describes it (in Film Guide, April 2004) an action-comedy.

It is funny. It's one of the few times I've laughed out loud in the cinema but I must say it is not as funny as "I kina spiser de hunde" and small next to "Gamle mænd i nye biler" which gave me stomach ache watching it.

Story-wise it was okay. A copper is helping the bad guys in good faith, in stead of putting them in jail, while trying to do his job. We have seen it a LOT of time in English movies but not that many in Danish. Again I like the story better in "I Kina spiser de hunde" and "Gamle mænd i ny biler" than "Den gode strømer".

Big bangs?? Now there is a lot of big bangs i the movie but most of it is happing the last 30 min. But then a lot is happing!!

Acting: Well... They are all doing a good job. Nothing about that. Kim Bodnia is great as always. It is nice to see that René Dif can do more than 'Aqua Ken'!! I think that he is doing it good and am hoping to see more movies with him. Robert Hansen, I know from "Krummerne 3" and "Kærlighed ved første hik" series but never in an action movie, again not a bad word about him.

All in all... I think that it was a good movie; it was funny, some big bangs and a lot of good acting...

I hope this was of some help.

The actors in this film are normally very good, but in this film, one never get's close to any of the characters, and the plot is so vague You soon lose the interest. Tried to see it through because I couldn't believe it could be like that for all the film. Stunts are used a lot, and maybe the director should stay to doing stunts, and let someone direct who is capable of that, and someone write a story who is capable of that. This film is the worst I have ever seen. The "plan 9 from outer space" is at least laughable for its bad effects and plot. As usual, in his films, the ad for the film is very funny, and well cut. Wish his films where a little closer to the ads...

This one is really hard to judge, because the good and the bad things are in such an extreme opposition. I thought several times: Okay, Spang-Olsen wanted to make a cheap looking B-picture... but then... Well, let' s start with the good aspects: The acting is very good to great (Kim Bodnia). The script is great and funny and spiced up with a lot of probably improvised jokes and some good running jokes.

On the other hand the music is absolutely terrible and does not work with the story arc. The cinematography is absolutely terrible as well. Most of it looks like a cheap home video form 1986. And the editing is groce as well.

So when you watch this always keep in mind, what a great movie this could have been with good camera, good music and good editing. It would have been big hit, for sure!

Well, I must say I like the films by Lasse Spang-Olsen and I am one of those who think that Kim Bodnia is without a shred of doubt one of the finest actors in Denmark (Jens Okking being the king, but he is also in this flick! Nice!)..

Naturally, as I love these films I had to see this aswell and yes, I was entertained, absolutely, but the film left me wishing for some new surprises. All these Bodnia/Spang co-productions looks to much alike but the jokes and happenings are nearly all the same - also it is very clear that Spang-Olsen is not a director, but a stuntman. It all has to be explosions without cause - the film ends with a big showdown (would you have guessed?) with a lot of explosions, but it is only for effect. None of the things happening in this showdown is connected, it is just random explosions as if they thought they should just explode enough and we would give up trying to figure out what was going on? NOT clever!

However, mildly entertaining. Wannabe-actor Rene Dif is actually a positive surprise in this film, he is probably the most fun of them - walking around senselessly, no memory..

Watch this film, but don't expect new thinking or any surprises..

6/10