Review of Toni Erdmann (2016) by Ldweiler — 27 Jan 2017
It's hard to categorize this movie. Billed as a comedy, it is tears-running down-your-face hilarious at certain times, drolly funny elsewhere, slyly satirical at other times, sometimes just plain quirky and even squirmy-uncomfortable in places.
It's always interesting, though, and maybe even brilliant. At its core, Toni Erdmann is about core values, both personal and societal; about shifting power relationships in the workplace and within families; and about a father's love for his adult daughter and his struggle to find a way to connect with her.
Critics love it, I think, for its subtlety, its unpredictability, and its blending or mashing of genres: comedy, social criticism, family drama, and even a dash of weepy melodrama. Plus, the performances of Peter Simonischek as Winfried/Toni and Sandra Hiller as his daughter, Ines, are sharp and completely believable.
This review of Toni Erdmann (2016) was written by Ldweiler on 27 Jan 2017.
Toni Erdmann has generally received very positive reviews.
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