Teambuilding

I had really low expectations after many negative reviews seen. But it was actually a really decent comedy to watch on a Friday night. Even if being decent, is one of the best comedies in Romania from the last 3 decades. The problem is that the plot happens around the "corporation environment" which, ironically and sad, is still new for romanian public which has a big part of the public nostalgic after communist times and working for "the state".

Some really smart jokes, taboo topics that should be talked more in Romania, general corporation jokes. Take a pizza, a beer, and relax. You will not laugh your eyes out, but you will smile most of the movie.

In my book comedies fall in two categories: those which makes you smile and those which makes you laugh. Teambuilding is in the latter.

Yes, some jokes are gross, some jokes are cheap, but for sure they makes you laugh. If you can't laugh at this movie, it means you can't laugh at stand up comedy and it means you are a really sad person. In this case I beg you read "Povestea pulei" by Ion Cranga. It should be funny, if is not please go to a psychiatrist.

Sound is ok, the image is decent (don't expect outstanding cinematography). Some actors didn't make a very good job, but this is not a problem because you can laugh of this too. It isn't a realist film and you shouldn't expect realism, but exaggeration and fun.

What remains beyond laughter is the satire. A satire of corporate spirit, of HR bossing around, of drinking too much, of senseless sex, of being dishonest with yourself, of putting labels to others, of indifference, of servilism, of politically corectness and many others.

Kind reminder!

Romanian films are rare. Romanian comedies are even rarer. Good ones are one in 10 years. This might just be one of the latter but I don't feel good saying it because it doesn't say a lot in the grand scheme of things.

A lot of the jokes are real stupid and filthy, which I liked, but also a lot of them I've seen or heard in other American films. Not surprising...Matei Dima and Micutzu grew up with that kind of movies but then again I really liked the Romanian stereotypes and I find a bit of truth in all of them. But I've seen those stereotypes in American movies as well haha...I'm conflicted haha.

Anyway, I had fun at the cinema, more so because the theater was full and to hear a full theater room laughing is just...great.

I see it more as a parody(satire) than a comedy per say. If you expect a comedy, you'll be dissapointed, but if you understand the genre of the movie, that this is a mockery of the corporate clichees, tropes, and doublespeak you'll get the right value of the movie.

I believe the actors didn't play badly, they played well for a parody, exagerating some of the reactions. I know some of they actors from other movies, known for goood acting, they played bad on purpose, their "bad acting" is good acting showing "bad acting" and fakeness& hypocrisy happening in everyday corporate life.

I only give it an 8 because there is some unnecessary profanity.

Supposing that most of the viewers will be Romanians, in general, we tend to be too harsh and critical with accomplishments of other Romanian fellows.

I don't think it was a very good comedy as it did not appeal to me personally but I can understand the appeal to other people. There is a lot of unnecessary violence and swearing for no particular reason, just because the producer thought it might be interesting.

There are also a lot and I mean a lot of clichees, like every other scene is a clichee. Every ethnicity in Romania is represented by yet another clichee, a thing that will appeal to simple minds. All in all I think they did a great job at making a commercial product that will be enjoyed by as many romanians as possible.

It is a mediocity fest that the majority of people will find true to life, which is a good thing from a business perspective. Therefore I hope for many more sequels. Not sequels I will watch, but sequels the people want. Long live romanian people and their lovely mediocrity!