Guglhupfgeschwader

Langreview Kurzkritik English Version Fakten + Credits

This is already the eighth time that Ed Herzog has dedicated himself to the continuation of the so-called “Eberhofer Krimis”. Based on the successful novels by Rita Falk, the two main actors Sebastian Bezzel and Simon Schwarz as well as many lovable supporting characters have already played their way into the hearts of southern Germany and are increasingly conquering the other regions of the country as well. For example, the last film in the series KAISERSCHMARRNDRAMA generated well over 10 million US dollars in sales and more than one million fans sought out their local cinema. According to the Augsburger Allgemeine, media researchers at the University of Würzburg conducted a study in this regard that, among other things, examined the audience’s motives for why the so called “Heimatkrimis” are so popular. The result of the study was said to be above all the aspects of “aesthetics” and “habitualisation”, but also the desire to have an influence on the regulation of moods themselves.^[1]

This is what it is all about

After a long period of hard work, the time has finally come: Franz Eberhofer is to receive an appropriate tribute and honour for his anniversary of service. However, Rudi does not like this at all. Instead of being able to look forward to the special day, Franz has to straighten out his friendship with Rudi on the one hand, and on the other he has to solve a murder case in the village, which is supposed to bring unexpected secrets to light. Family, friends and work overtax the hard-working policeman to the maximum and so he must once again resort to unusual methods in order to please everyone equally and, on top of that, to get his head out of the noose.

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Review

There is something absolutely magical about the Eberhofer saga, because although there are now many people in this country who are tired of any Heimatkrimis, the films are getting more and more attention – and quite rightly so. Ed Herzog has created something that stands out from the dull mundane of the German film industry and disregards the basic rules of genre film with pure self-irony. Instead of following the same old crime narrative familiar from the evening TV programmes of the public broadcasters, Rita Falk’s stories rely on drastic events that serve only as a subplot to a never-ending family story, provided with plenty of humour, cordiality and fatuity. So the only question is: Can GUGLHUPFGESCHWADER follow this recipe for success, will it continue along the same path or will it ultimately try out a completely new strategy?

Many new viewers of recent years will presumably be quite disappointed by the continuation here, because even if Sebastian Bezzel is as charming as ever, the air seems to have gone out and a lack of ideas has set in. The crime stories themselves have never been really exciting and thrilling, but at least they have not shied away from applying ice-cold brutality, staging imaginative murders or establishing confusing plot lines. Nothing of the sort awaits us in GUGLHUPFGESCHWADER, however, which wouldn’t even be so bad if at least all the other aspects of the film were right.

Everything turned upside down

Instead, the essential essence of the series is changed in its very foundations and the pure passion for a silly and completely over-the-top Heimatfilm goes down the drain. This is mainly due to the fact that various secondary characters are suddenly given deeper stories, which on the one hand result in a total chaos of characters and on the other hand turn the comfortable lightness into annoying drama. Suddenly, not only Sebastian Bezel’s role is confronted with relationship problems, but also Simon Schwarz, who until now has always been able to bring the right contrast to the story as a random sidekick. In addition, familiar foibles are disregarded and the home story comes to an end at the latest when the investigation leads our protagonists across the border into the Czech Republic. Was this an imperative measure? Hardly.

The only bright spot is, as ever, the desperate and always dreaming Ignaz Flötzinger, who is once again filled with a lot of unrestrained energy by Daniel Christensen and breaks the boundaries of shame. With specially composed music, the role once again breaks with all conventions and provides a smile or two, even if it is no longer enough for a hearty laugh. Even his problems and worries now seem detached and remote. Thus, the work unfortunately mutates into a mainstream film that disregards the hitherto so subtly elaborated peculiarities of the various characters and instead prefers to work towards a superfluous payoff that is supposed to compete with the action cinema of international cinema.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, Ed Herzog’s team fails to match the earlier success of the series and loses a lot of its own charm. Instead of shallow entertainment in the modern style, we get boring crime drama in which the established patterns are ignored and an attempt is made to capture a breath of fresh air that absolutely no one wants with the series. Stupid silliness around Franz Eberhofer now turns into big family and friendship dramas and thus the lightness completely disappears. The hope remains that everything will be back to normal in REH-RAGOUT-RENDEVOUS, which is due to start in cinemas next year.

How did you like the movie?
(4 Bewertungen, Durchschnitt: 5,00 von 10)