Toni Erdmann

Nothing remotely humorous about my mustache - still going strong after three months

Germans aren't meant to have a sense of humour, but when you are in Germany they always seem to be mirthfully laughing about something or grimly walking forward and waiting patiently at lights. A movie that Madeleine and I watched lately was the critically acclaimed (honestly critics bloody loved this film) German comedy "Toni Erdmann". This is problematic as normally German comedies are like the dregs of Hollywood B films, picture a film featuring a German version Adam Sandler or Kevin Hart or a double feature with both of them robbing a bank. Mostly these are the sorts of film being advertised in Subways. Lots of explosions and funny costumes and accents. As a German comedy, Toni Erdmann does some stirling work with costumes, mostly a funny pair of false teeth. But it is in the heartfelt and sincere story of a prankster father and a cold, career driven daughter that this film gives the most reward and you might even be found laughing mirthfully like any true German. We laughed a lot, although it definitely is longer than you would normally expect and more incisive than an American Comedy. Highly recommended.