"Immer wieder anders", which means something like "Always differently" is a German television film from 2014, so this one is already over half a decade old now. It runs for 1.5 hours as they usually do and was directed by Austrian filmmaker Matthias Steurer and written by Sophia Krapoth. The director is more prolific than the writer here as he has already been part of the industry since the early 90s and Krapoth "only" started in the new millennium. I would also say his body of work is not just bigger, but also slightly better. That does not say a lot though because it is mostly due to Krapoth's being packed with projects of a really low quality. It is pretty ironic that the production company's name here includes the word "relevant" while the visual effects company includes the work art. This film is quality-wise definitely the exact opposite artistic relevance. A lot of make-believe here for sure. But I will talk about the weaker moments later on. Only had to mention this. It's not a really old film or anything, but I'd say that it still should not be shown anymore these days, but then again they are still showing equally bad films from 2005 or so on national television on ARD and its smaller stations, so I am definitely not surprised this one we have here was on yesterday and today. It certainly has nothing to do with quality,just easy to show cheap reruns while cashing in on the audience and literally forcing them to pay for it. Double-digits that is. Shameful. Stand up against this. Okay, drifting away now, so back to this film: Let's take a look at the cast now: The male lead is Barnaby Metschurat, who was quite a rising star early in his career as I remember, not so much anymore now in the 2020s. Or 2010. Female lead is Katharina Wackernagel. She was in her mid-30s when this was made, Metschurat already 40, so not too young anymore. The supporting cast has some familiar names and faces too. Sebastian Bezzel is an actor I like and I feel pretty bad for him that he has to play such a character here, who really deserves better because let's be honest, he is three leagues above Wackernagel, but of course she does not wwant to marry him. Yeah, right. And if you think that is absurd already, wait till you see the gorgeous Laura de Boer and we are supposed to believe the male protagonist is ready to leave her for Wackernagel's character. Absolute nonsense. But yeah, I was talking about the cast. Next mention I want to make is Maren Kroymann. Absolute nothing performance and character here, but she is supposed to bring out the big emotions when we find about her character dying. Not gonna work. You have to invest talent and creativity for such a reaction from the audience. It is all so lackluster here. Last mention to Kim Riedle. She's actually doing really fine right now, scored an unconventional German Film Award nomination not too long ago and seems to be the big exception of a German daily soap starlet who managed a successful film career. Who would have thought. Good for her. But here, her character is so small that once again she cannot make any impact.
So I already said a few things about the story and why it is not good at all in my opinion. Another thing that felt really clumsy in my opinion is how this movie spans over many years actually and there are big jumps in time. The story continues when we find out the male protagonist became a dad with his new girlfriend, when we find out his mother died (Kroymann) and so on. It feels really rocky though from a storytelling perspective. Nothing fluent at all. And in the end of course the wedding was cancelled (if it happened in reality only 10% like in the movies... so unrealistic) that would have meant their final farewell as a romantic couple if completed, but yeah we find out in a gooey unauthentic happy ending that they have always loved each other. Okay. So the troubles continue. Oh no, wait. They turn into a happy couple now of course for the next 40 years. This is what they wnat us to think right? Sorry, I can't be doing them this favor. So yeah, the ending is as bad as everything before that. I also did not really like how it was always Wackernagel's character in charge. She decides when her (ex-)man kisses her. She decides when he has to leave first thing in the morning after sex with the ex. Charming. I guess this was supposed to depict her as a confident woman and inspire audiences to be like her because of course the vast majority of viewers here is female. I found it cringeworthy to be honest. And it's nothing new that these ARD afternoon movies frequently have an anti-male message where the female is always the one whose desires matter most and the male characters have to follow them. Of course, equally charming that it is as always the man who is depicted as a cheater here. Sigh. Is there anything positive I can say about this movie? Hardly as you can see from my rating. And it is just two out of ten because I don't give ones. But yeah, Bezzel was okay I suppose, but like I said I am biased there because I kinda like the actor and especially his crime comedies. This film here is also a comedy according to imdb. A romantic comedy maybe? There are certainly also dramatic moments here. Some I mentioned. But let me assure you that this film is never funny whatsoever and did not make me smile once. Not sure if they tried though and if this can really be called a comedy. But the one thing this film did from beginning to end is take itself completely seriously while not even offering 10% of the talent that would have allowed them to take all this seriously. It's a mess. Oh yes, another positive thing: de Boer's looks as I already said and this is really the biggest absurdity why anybody would want Wackernagel's character over de Boer's. Sigh. Also admittedly I am biased here as I have seen Wackernagel in many other movies and honestly I think she is an actress without the slightest ounce of talent, the slightest ounce of range and versatility in her body. It may sound harsh, but I think it is true. Maybe she has recognition value, maybe her physical shape fits in nicely this time and age, but acting she cannot and she should not play lead characters whatsoever as she has done for years. Hardly any different face expressions through the entire film. Metschurat is slightly better, but not much I'd say. Not too much to say about him. Not a fan, but I have not seen too much from him. Finally, one scene that summarizes this film very well, namely the cringeworthy moment when the protagonists' son turns (professional) life into living hell for a new teacher and Wackernagel's character (of course very confident) stands up for her and not for her son. So yeah, she is also just of course and unbiased. Something that applies in pretty much all her films. Nothing new here. The same old nonsense. Big thumbs-down for this film. At times unbearable to watch, in its better moments still entirely forgettable. Highly not recommended.
So I already said a few things about the story and why it is not good at all in my opinion. Another thing that felt really clumsy in my opinion is how this movie spans over many years actually and there are big jumps in time. The story continues when we find out the male protagonist became a dad with his new girlfriend, when we find out his mother died (Kroymann) and so on. It feels really rocky though from a storytelling perspective. Nothing fluent at all. And in the end of course the wedding was cancelled (if it happened in reality only 10% like in the movies... so unrealistic) that would have meant their final farewell as a romantic couple if completed, but yeah we find out in a gooey unauthentic happy ending that they have always loved each other. Okay. So the troubles continue. Oh no, wait. They turn into a happy couple now of course for the next 40 years. This is what they wnat us to think right? Sorry, I can't be doing them this favor. So yeah, the ending is as bad as everything before that. I also did not really like how it was always Wackernagel's character in charge. She decides when her (ex-)man kisses her. She decides when he has to leave first thing in the morning after sex with the ex. Charming. I guess this was supposed to depict her as a confident woman and inspire audiences to be like her because of course the vast majority of viewers here is female. I found it cringeworthy to be honest. And it's nothing new that these ARD afternoon movies frequently have an anti-male message where the female is always the one whose desires matter most and the male characters have to follow them. Of course, equally charming that it is as always the man who is depicted as a cheater here. Sigh. Is there anything positive I can say about this movie? Hardly as you can see from my rating. And it is just two out of ten because I don't give ones. But yeah, Bezzel was okay I suppose, but like I said I am biased there because I kinda like the actor and especially his crime comedies. This film here is also a comedy according to imdb. A romantic comedy maybe? There are certainly also dramatic moments here. Some I mentioned. But let me assure you that this film is never funny whatsoever and did not make me smile once. Not sure if they tried though and if this can really be called a comedy. But the one thing this film did from beginning to end is take itself completely seriously while not even offering 10% of the talent that would have allowed them to take all this seriously. It's a mess. Oh yes, another positive thing: de Boer's looks as I already said and this is really the biggest absurdity why anybody would want Wackernagel's character over de Boer's. Sigh. Also admittedly I am biased here as I have seen Wackernagel in many other movies and honestly I think she is an actress without the slightest ounce of talent, the slightest ounce of range and versatility in her body. It may sound harsh, but I think it is true. Maybe she has recognition value, maybe her physical shape fits in nicely this time and age, but acting she cannot and she should not play lead characters whatsoever as she has done for years. Hardly any different face expressions through the entire film. Metschurat is slightly better, but not much I'd say. Not too much to say about him. Not a fan, but I have not seen too much from him. Finally, one scene that summarizes this film very well, namely the cringeworthy moment when the protagonists' son turns (professional) life into living hell for a new teacher and Wackernagel's character (of course very confident) stands up for her and not for her son. So yeah, she is also just of course and unbiased. Something that applies in pretty much all her films. Nothing new here. The same old nonsense. Big thumbs-down for this film. At times unbearable to watch, in its better moments still entirely forgettable. Highly not recommended.
