Review of Copenhagen (2014) by Ryan P — 08 Jun 2016

Copenhagen is a love letter to the city and the Danish way of life, through the eyes of a North American (you'll get that if you watch it) tourist, touroping through Europe as many of us do as a rite of passage. But what looks like a cute romantic comedy from the start and a predictable character arc for our protagonist, Will, becomes something VERY different with one simple revelation.

SERIOUSLY, never have I seen a film where everything completely changes with one tiny revelation. The entire context and the film going forward changes completely and in hindsight, it's a brilliant twist that carries INCREDIBLE emotional weight.

The film is, despite its charming locale, quirky sense of humour and all, has a weird and dark undercurrent that I found very refreshing. It feels like modern Copenhagen itself, beautiful and full of character, yet (like any city) with a bit of seediness and uncertainty. The film tackles (unexpectedly) a very, very controversial topic and it's handled with such weight and maturity that it's hard not to leave this film thinking about it for hours, if not days after. And it's grounded in strong direction, a good sense of humor and great performances from Anthony and Hansen, who crackle with chemistry.

The only gripe I have this movie is that it feels a little amateurish at times. There's one scene, in a nightclub, that looks like it was filmed in someone's basement. There are a couple really bad performances from some supporting characters and some weird editing moments. But, on the strength of a risky and very entertaining plot, great performances and a genuine love for Copenhagen (and lots and lots of nice shots of this beautiful city), I recommend it. Just...keep an open mind.