"Schlussmacher" is a 105-minute (without credits) German comedy movie from over 2 years ago about a young man who works with a company that finishes love relationships if one of the two partners does not want to do it himself. Sounds a bit like a relationship version of "Up in the Air" (and the main character has a similar transformation), but sadly, it does not have the charm of that one. You could even draw parallels between Milan Peschel and Anna Kendrick. Anyway, a US remake is already in planning, so we will see if it happens. Here in Germany, it was one of the most successful films of 2013 in terms of money. Schweighöfer is (maybe after Schweiger) the most known face in Germany right now in terms of movies and he also directed this film besides starring in it. He got help from frequent Schweiger collaborator Torsten Künstler. The script is by Doron Wisotzky, who has worked with Schweighöfer in the past already.
Apart from Schweighöfer (who still is not a particularly talented actor in my opinion), this film has Milan Peschel (always collaborates with Schweighöfer), Nadja Uhl, Heiner Lauterbach, Torsten Künstler, Detlev Buck, Tom Beck, Badesalz and Schweighöfer's parents in the cast, maybe a couple more familiar faces I forgot to mention. How are we supposed to like the main character, even with his transformation if he accepts a job where he tries to get a woman to cheat on her husband, so the husband will not have to split his massive fortune in the event of a divorce? Such an unlikeable character (and that always goes for Schweighöfer's roles, even if they are supposed to be likable). Peschel is almost as lead as Schweighöfer and he is the complete opposite. He gets people together and not apart. He loves his girlfriend a lot and is not scared of serious relationships, he actually prefers these. There were several scenes that were pretty bad. like a telephone joke on transsexuals or several scenes of attempted suicide (where this film aspires to be more relevant than it is) or Peschel's character's bonding with that obese lady. I doubt he would ever agree to do that with how much Uhl's character is still on his mind. And the morally important ending with Schweighöfer's character's quote on how he ends the (professional) relationship was downright cringeworthy. Peschel is clearly the superior actor of the two and without him it would have been much worse. Still not a good movie and it suffers from abysmal writing at times. Not recommended. A failed attempt at comedy.
Apart from Schweighöfer (who still is not a particularly talented actor in my opinion), this film has Milan Peschel (always collaborates with Schweighöfer), Nadja Uhl, Heiner Lauterbach, Torsten Künstler, Detlev Buck, Tom Beck, Badesalz and Schweighöfer's parents in the cast, maybe a couple more familiar faces I forgot to mention. How are we supposed to like the main character, even with his transformation if he accepts a job where he tries to get a woman to cheat on her husband, so the husband will not have to split his massive fortune in the event of a divorce? Such an unlikeable character (and that always goes for Schweighöfer's roles, even if they are supposed to be likable). Peschel is almost as lead as Schweighöfer and he is the complete opposite. He gets people together and not apart. He loves his girlfriend a lot and is not scared of serious relationships, he actually prefers these. There were several scenes that were pretty bad. like a telephone joke on transsexuals or several scenes of attempted suicide (where this film aspires to be more relevant than it is) or Peschel's character's bonding with that obese lady. I doubt he would ever agree to do that with how much Uhl's character is still on his mind. And the morally important ending with Schweighöfer's character's quote on how he ends the (professional) relationship was downright cringeworthy. Peschel is clearly the superior actor of the two and without him it would have been much worse. Still not a good movie and it suffers from abysmal writing at times. Not recommended. A failed attempt at comedy.