This is "Die Feuerzangenbowle" and most people who hear the title and know about film will immediately think of the much older Heinz Rühmann movie. But this one we have here is the take of German filmmaker Helmut Käutner from 1970, so this one is already over 45 years old. The cast includes a handful of known names like Walter Giller (who plays Rühmann's part, the main character), Uschi Glas, Theo Lingen, Rudolf Schündler or Nadja Tiller (Giller's wife). And looking at how Käutner made many well-received films in his career, then one has to say that you could actually expect something nice from this film here. But your expectations would be disappointed. Maybe comedy is not exactly Käutner's strength as many probably consider this film one of his weakest. But there is also the question that needs to be asked if they actually saw this movie. I don't think it was that bad overall to be honest. I am sure many just gave this one such a low rating because they love the Rühmann film and automatically think that there was no need for a remake and this is why they are already biased and maybe hated this film here without even seeing it. I don't know.
As for me, I watched the Rühmann film and this one and I found both not really appealing, let alone entertaining. I guess Helmut Spoerl's novel just isn't to my liking, but who knows I haven't read. But I'd be surprised to like it after I disliked both films I saw that were based on it. This is the story of a grown man who talks to his friends and decides to go back to school as he has never been there and he wants to re-experiences the awesomeness that he has been missing out (according to his colleagues). Or does he really go back. Wait for the ending to find out the major plot twist. Anyway, in my opinion there is no need to really see this film and it's another example of how weak German comedy was back then unfortunately. People who keep moaning that there are no great German comedies anymore may be partially right. But they are also forgetting that there are so so many weak and unfunny German comedy films from the past, probably a lot more than from today. It makes me a bit sad that the inclusion of people like Lingen or Schündler who I quite like was still not enough to keep this really absurd little tale from becoming an underwhelming movie. But it's also not worse than the much more known Rühmann film, so maybe if you enjoyed that one, then you can also check out this one here. I myself do not give a thumbs-up though and I suggest you watch something else instead.
As for me, I watched the Rühmann film and this one and I found both not really appealing, let alone entertaining. I guess Helmut Spoerl's novel just isn't to my liking, but who knows I haven't read. But I'd be surprised to like it after I disliked both films I saw that were based on it. This is the story of a grown man who talks to his friends and decides to go back to school as he has never been there and he wants to re-experiences the awesomeness that he has been missing out (according to his colleagues). Or does he really go back. Wait for the ending to find out the major plot twist. Anyway, in my opinion there is no need to really see this film and it's another example of how weak German comedy was back then unfortunately. People who keep moaning that there are no great German comedies anymore may be partially right. But they are also forgetting that there are so so many weak and unfunny German comedy films from the past, probably a lot more than from today. It makes me a bit sad that the inclusion of people like Lingen or Schündler who I quite like was still not enough to keep this really absurd little tale from becoming an underwhelming movie. But it's also not worse than the much more known Rühmann film, so maybe if you enjoyed that one, then you can also check out this one here. I myself do not give a thumbs-up though and I suggest you watch something else instead.
