U mě dobrý

Na ja, bei mir sieht es auch ziemlich gut aus. Fünfzig Minuten (!) passiert in diesem Film nichts Besonders. Visuell ist er aber sehr schön und ich muss zugeben, dass es Hřebejk – vor allem dank der magischen Kamera von Jan Malíř – gelungen ist, eine tolle Stimmung zu schaffen. Man könnte sie beinahe der Stimmung in den Filmen von Menzel/Hrabal gleichsetzen (Libeň ist eigentlich Kersko am Wasser). Beinahe deshalb, weil der schrecklich lange Anfang der Handlung eigentlich sinnlos ist. Und obwohl die einzelnen Geschichten unterhaltsam sind, gibt es eigentlich nichts, was sie verbinden würde. Die meisten von ihnen hätte die Handlung gar nicht gebraucht. Wenn endlich der versprochene Betrug und die Genugtuung (welche die Figur vom ausgezeichneten Bolek Polívka betrifft) kommen, bekommt der Film sogar Schwung. Und obwohl ich nicht lauthals gelacht habe, habe ich fast die ganze Zeit gelächelt. Dieser Film ist zwar nichts Besonderes, er ist aber angenehm, behaglich und hat eine gute Besetzung. (10.11.2011)

I did not go to the movie theater with high expectations, as Czech films have not been doing well lately. I was pleasantly surprised by this decent, well-executed genre comedy with an exceptional cast. It is certainly not a great film, but compared to Jan Hřebejk's previous two (in my view, very weak) films, it is a significant step forward. The film somewhat resembles Machulski's Vabank and Ocean's Eleven. Of course, it is a cheaper Czech version that has some flaws, the level of dialogue fluctuates, some scenes are not adequately executed - for example, the absurd scene of selling cosmetics in a pub ends with a rather awkward vulgarity, some of the supporting characters are only superficially outlined, and Hřebejk did not avoid his usual sweet idyll in creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility on the Prague island. On the other hand, the actual film concept, the cast of main characters led by Bolek Polívka Miroslav Vladyka and Josef Somr, and several type-actors, along with a series of successful gags, amounts to a respectable overall impression of 70%. It is not a waste of time, which cannot be said about the vast majority of current Czech productions. A decent relaxing film for relaxation and a good mood. The pleasant musical background is also enjoyable. (16.05.2008)

Hřebejk, Jarchovský, and Šabach continue their narrative about the past decades to "document" a similar phenomenon of the 1990s to Holiday Makers. So now it’s about Shells. The film does feature some nice moments with the traditional cast, led by Polívka. Lenka Vlasáková has a nice etude on the topic of ecological cosmetics and Oriflame-style sales. There is probably some value in remembering this feature of post-revolutionary euphoria, but I dread what’s going to come next time. What other useless trifles will be promoted... (04.11.2009)

I’m All Good is all good with me too, despite the fact that the first half is a dragged-out nothing. The whole movie like that would have been unbearable, but luckily in the second half it flops over into a cute little Czech farce about an ingenious plan which, with its grubby tracksuits with a couple of thousand crowns in pocket at a dusty fair in Prague, stands up nicely even in the shadow of the neon lights and sharp suits of Ocean’s Eleven. We don’t have to enter into a long discussion about whether Polívka as Mrklas (read Mr. Class) boils a much tastier broth than the rest of the ensemble. That’s just the way it is. Too bad that they don’t go overboard on the humor front, it would have helped in places. The couple of flashes of comedy are about the best things in this movie. In school the word good was a synonym for average and, all told, I’m All Good is more than equal to its title. (15.05.2008)

After the first period, I cursed Hřebejka for choosing such a painfully boring subject, but at the end, I forgave him all the suffering. The fact that he can pack so many lines, atmosphere, and tension into the final tens of minutes proves that the most productive Czech director of our time still has it, with a little effort, in any genre. He just shouldn't be trying to play God. (07.03.2010)