Phew, well that’s half of the review practically done after
typing the title of this adaptation of the comedic international bestseller by
Jonas Jonasson. As you may already have guessed, this is one of the quirkiest
and absurd films I have seen in a long time. I’m not entirely sure as to
whether or not that humour even applies to me. It has to be done very well to
work in my opinion, and it has to be partly relevant. For me even the most
bizarre comedies cannot just comprise of a series of random events for no
reason, it simply isn’t good filmmaking.
When a rebellious century-old man escapes form his
retirement home on his birthday he is caught up in a number of escapades
involving drugs, money, motorcyclists, crime lords and a circus elephant, oh
and did I mention the fact that he’s a dynamite expert. The film has proven to
be sensational in its native country Sweden, but in other countries it has been
met with a much more lukewarm reception. But then again the Swedes have always
liked absurdity, and I can really see a cult phenomenon developing around this
film.
The set up for the films entire plot pretty much sums up the
tone of the entire film. Allen Karlsson uses his explosive knowledge to destroy
a fox that has killed his treasured cat. Naturally that causes a bit of a stir
and he is removed to a retirement home. For someone of Allen’s persona this is torturous,
from there segments of his life are presented to the audience having
participated in the Spanish Civil War, The Manhattan Project and meeting Joseph
Stalin as well as the CIA.
Credit must be given to the director Felix Herngren, who
balances the absurdity and dark comedy as well as throwing in hints of tragedy
quite well. It fits together rather neatly despite the quirky retelling of
Allen’s past that is matched in terms of the presentation of modern day life.
Within minutes he picks up a suitcase and exits in spectacular fashion. Freakish
accidents and events follow in quick pursuit. I’s woven together so delicately and
meticulously that once again it has to be admired whether you like the actual
film or not. But then again it is inspired by a book (how this translates onto
paper I don’t know as I have not read the book of The 100 Year Old… you get the
idea) so do not give too much praise for the writing of the film, give it to
Jonas Jonasson.
If you cannot admire the plot and absurdity do not expect to
admire anything else. Robert Gustafsson stars as the 100 Year Old Man Who…
anyway, he is apparently the ‘funniest man in Sweden’ which can either mean two
things. Firstly comedians in Sweden are clearly thin for pickings and not that
good anyway, or that Robert (I can’t remember how to spell his last name) is
giving a broad performance deliberately because it is so hilarious that we do
not even realise that it is hilarious at all, I’m not so sure. His performance
is really broad and not in a 100 year old man kind of broad, I mean more of
just being either bored out of my mind or a bad actor or a robot. Take your
pick as to which one it is.
As well as that the whole attitude of the film seems to
think that it’s much funnier than it is. In my opinion it only appeals to one
very strange and unique line of comedy that it only fills fairly decently
anyway. but it presents itself like some artistic visionary project. Still,
many of the people who looked at the start of this review will have scrolled
straight through the rest without reading. To those people I wish you good luck
in your serious and conventional film viewing. For the rest of you, if you want
to leave the cinema tittering slightly and still just as confused as when you
entered, here you are.
Result: 5/10
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