An American Pickle

Das Thema ist unglaublich bizarr, aber für die aktuelle Covid-Zeit ist es eine lockere erholsame Komödie. Man kann sich dabei wirklich gut erholen und sich amüsieren. Seth Rogen fügt noch ein paar jüdische Witze hinzu, die keinen hohen Anspruch auf den Intelekt haben, und das Ganze rundet ein unterhaltsamer Soundtrack – wie auf einem Pessach-Fest – ab. (07.09.2020)

If I was Jewish, I might have liked this more. After an excellent opening, the action slows down when we arrive in the present and, even though Rogen delivers one funny scene after another, he just can’t escape from his constant moralizing. The pickling is like something out of a demonic horror flick and the subsequent brutal hype doesn’t seem unrealistic to me even though it was intended to be tongue-in-cheek. The Pickle lacks momentum and high-impact scenes, but it’s fun and makes for a pleasant viewing experience. (31.08.2020)

Nach den ausgezeichneten ersten 15 Minuten habe ich mir gewünscht, dass der Film sein Tempo behält. Leider vergeblich. Ich sah das Potenzial einer fast Funès-artigen Komödie mit einer verhüllten satirischen Bedeutung. Es ist nicht gelungen. Ich behaupte ja nicht, dass ich mich beim Rest von An American Pickle nicht amüsiert habe; z. B. die Frankenstein-Szene vom ersten Einmachen war großartig. Aber sonst war alles ziemlich voraussehbar. Tweety, eigentlich alles mit Ben… Seth Rogen ist aber super, Sarah Snook toll wie immer (sie war nur wenig zu sehen) und die unbekannte Molly Evensen in der Rolle von Herschels Praktikantin gefiel mir auch sehr. Was ich aber eindeutig loben muss, ist die Musik. Der Film hat den jüdischsten Soundtrack, den ich seit Schindlers Liste gehört habe, und den unterhaltsamsten jüdischen Soundtrack seit Die Abenteuer des Rabbi Jacob. (23.08.2020)

While watching this Pickle I was reminded of two different films: Ted (yes, that Ted with Mark Wahlberg) and the German satire Look Who's Back, where Hitler wakes up in the present. American Pickle is reminiscent of the former in the way it approaches its world and the main character, who shouldn’t be alive – after he awakes, they give a scientific explanation, which the viewer gets to hear, and everyone is satisfied and stops thinking about it (as they say in Ted, “Nobody gives a f*ck”). The similarities with the second film can be found in the feelings of the “dead” protagonist in the new era and also in his learning about the social and economic system and the politically and religiously shaped environment. Thus, overlapping several genres, the film establishes a conflict that on the external level develops between the two main characters and their respective approaches to modern society, while on the inner level, and within the structure of the work, it relies on the oscillation between the historical context of Jewish traditions and a social dramedy about a man whose ignorance gives an impression of elusive genius. In this sense, the film is not at all badly put together and both levels fall perfectly into place in their wholesome frame, unfortunately, though, they are not sufficiently elaborate and coherent on their own. After the peculiar establishment and encounter of the two protagonists, the story goes on to alternate between both planes in a pretty manipulative fashion, and though Hershel’s journey towards fame and controversy is entertaining and original, the conflict with his descendant lacks depth, and all the dramatic moments are overwhelmed by the comedic bits. Inevitably, the film leaves the strong aftertaste of the unfulfilled potential of its interesting premise – the humorous musings over the persistent social segregation and the influence of the internet are good, but they are quite quickly exhausted and lack a more solid line of argument. In short, it’s an effective comedy with dramatic tones that inevitably suffers from simplification. Thumbs up, but only for a new take on time travel of the kind a would have only expected from Rick and Morty. 65% (19.09.2020)

Exactly the kind of film that, in the age of online streaming, has no chance of making it to theaters and will go straight to VOD. Otherwise, the movie is to be consumed like fast food - despite a few good jokes, there really is no memorable moment and you won’t remember it in a week. (30.11.2020)