User Reviews

While the movie is basically about the main character and his break out of a dull life after a break down, that story gets a little lost in techno history and is drown in events and places. So the story telling itself feels bit more like a documentary, but a typical road movie may not really need typical dramatics and suspense curves. It is not easy to follow and feel with the main character and his change over time, what he learns during the trip and how his world collapses once again. And seems only one other character really gets it.

Nevertheless, it was worth watching.

The actors are just great, also set up, behavior and dialogues are stunning. Since the story does not need a real 90ies set, authentic music and clothes, they saved some funds on that, but that did not matter here - it is barely recognizable. I watched it twice because of funny and authentic speeches/dialogues, but it won't enter any of my Top 10s no matter what category. Have not read the book, but since the writer of the novel did the writing here too, I guess there is no need for the book after the movie.

"Magical Mystery oder die Rückkehr des Karl Schmidt" is not just a very long title for this 2017 film, but it is also one of the longer German films from this year as this one goes on for a massive 110 minutes. If you take a look at some other stuff that director Feldhusen and writer Regener worked on in the past, then you will find many projects that are also well-known beyond the German borders, including Stromberg (German "The Office"), one of my very favorite television shows of all time. This is why my expectations were not too low admittedly, especially as I also like some of the cast members here. The main character is played by Charly Hübner and I felt like he was sleepwalking his way through the film. I know he wasn't the boldest or loudest character, but still... I really expected more there. Detlev Buck is likable as always, but sadly also the exact same as always and you will see nothing from the actor or about the character that you have not seen in 5 other Buck films already. Meier, who plays the biggest female character, did absolutely nothing for me. I found it very difficult to care for her or for her relationship with Karl at any point at all because of that admittedly subjective dislike. Seeing how she is the only one in here who managed awards attention already some people beg to differ it seems. Hosemann was forgettable and wasted, probably still made the most of the role, a true nothing character. Mädel was very good though, but maybe that was also more about the make-up and not about the performance. Or about me being a huge Stromberg fanboy.

As a whole, I did not enjoy this film. I am not sure if it has to do with the film itself or the base material as this one is of course based on a novel. I am guessing the latter though. Without having seen, let alone read, the book though, I have a bit of a suspicion that people who liked the book will also like the movie. I am not one of these though, not by any definition. It probably also helps if you like techno and electronic music if you want to appreciate these almost 2 hours, but this added just more to the negative from my perspective. It is a very new German road movie that isn't a failure by any definition, but I myself found it very irrelevant in terms of characters and story. That's why it really dragged a lot too I must say. The best thing here? The guinea-pigs without a doubt Guinea-pigs simply rule. But yeah, not even the few scenes with these godly creatures make up for all the mediocrity from the rest. Too long, too forgettable, too insignificant. I expected better. It's also a rare occasion where it is not any better to see a film on the big screen compared to a small television screen, so if you really want to see it maybe wait until it hits small screens. Or watch something else instead, you really aren't missing a lot.