User Reviews

If you know and love the books you may come away a bit disappointed. Most of the humor which relies on the reader/listener having some familiarity with literature, philosphy, history is missing. All the more complicated or self-referential bits of humor are missing. It basically feels like a dumbed down version with some unneccesseary additions (e.g. a love story). Forcing the episodic nature of the book(s) into a coherent story was certainly not easy and it shows in the weak cookie-cutter plot. Actor quality is also a mixed bag. Especially the protagonist and main antagonist aren't cast particularly well or just weren't given enough to work with by the script.

That said the kangaroo CGI is good quality, the interaction between it and the other characters feel natural. The movie starts off funny and the pacing works for the most part. Some signature jokes were also incorporated well into the story.

If they take the criticisms to heart I feel they could crank out another one or two of these movies with better quality. There's certainly more than enough source material to draw from.

2 Kids and 2 Adults disappointed.

The 2 Kids (7 and 10) were missing all their long term jokes and were terrified by all the visible violence. In the books the Nazis always lose against the Kangaru. But in the movie the Nazis suddenly look and behave dangerous in a non-bud-spencer-realistic-way and Marc gets hurt with real blood visible. We two adults were missing all the jokes and the fun and the nagging of Marc and his Kanguru. In our audition director Dany Levy was available for questions. He told about its own kids being long term hard core fans and warning him not to ruin the (audio)books for his kids for all time by making a bad movie. But he did unfortunately.

"Some will find it mediocre"

We all know that books are better than their respective filmed version. There is rarely a movie which is more enjoyable than the counterpart book. But from the likes of Marc Uwe-Kling - who even joked about making a movie out of this book in the very book - I definitely expected more.

This movie takes a number of random scenes from the books and somehow plasters them together into a more-or-less, but really rather less, coherent story. There is a more prominent focus on Jörg Dwigs and the nazis who were more of a real threat than in the book and the story tried to have a focus on some AfD-based jokes. But the focus was really not that funny, most such jokes already done thousands of times and the storyline just a mess. Even the actors didn't seem convincing and the best parts of the book were left out.

All in all unfortunately very disappointing and unexpected for such a fantastic book series. What a pity.

The movie is everything I hoped it wouldn't be and I can't believe the author gave his blessings. It's a typical german comedy. In a bad way. Which means the humor is very silly. Which doesn't do the ingenious novels by Marc-Uwe Kling any justice, because the humor there is witty and more on the dry side. What made me cringe the most was what I'm sure will be sold off as movie "citations". Which even if you know they are meant like that just come off as blatant and shameless stealing. As a viewer I felt insulted. A citation has to do bring in new elements. It has to hint at the original just to show the appreciation for it. Put it in another context. Not stealing entire scenes and dialogues and even end with the same punchline. If you're outright stealing at least have the modesty not to copycat material that everyone and his grandmother has seen hundreds of times. The interaction between the kangaroo and the main character is unconvincing and weak. It looks like he acts to thin air. Which is made worse by the fact that the kangaroo's voice is coming from the off and doesn't fit in with the ambient sound. There's no reverb, no nothing. But you can see it's lips move, so it feels just awkward. The animation is not the best either. All the punchlines that put me to tears while listening to the audio books just don't fire because the timing is off. The story they've build around the source material is plainly dumb and uninspired tv-quality stuff. As is the cinematography, if you wanna call it that. German telenovela level. There's nothing I like about the movie which the books didn't do better.

There are 3-4 good laughs and that's it. The script is weak, the directing much more (the film does not find his rhythm in the first half an hour, almost every scene is with music that pushes itself into the foreground, the style of this movie resembles a children's film), the only good thing is the look and movement of the kangaroo.

The director Dani Levy, who is repeatedly overrated as a comedy director, did not understand what is so funny about the chronicles. The kangaroo's absurdity only works when the rest of the world seems normal. But when the whole world goes crazy, like in Levy's film, a kangaroo with communist statements doesn't stand out anymore.

And you don't have to be a communist or a kangaroo or both to demonstrate against the insane demolition and high-rise plans - the main drama in the film.

All in all a nice film for children and teenagers. As an adult you look in vain for the wit of the story that the books by Marc-Uwe Kling definitely have.

Has some funny moments, very well animated. Story is just lower average, you shouldn't have too high expectation for a comedy like this. Overall a good movie to look once.

I am totally disappointed. Given the good quality books of Kling it is hard to imagine that anyone could produce a worse movie than this. 25 years ago, the Berlin dialogues would at least be kind of original, today it is full old cliché and this world is obviously long gone as well. What is even worse, the movie has not one likeable character in it. Always a very bad sign. Avoid.

All in all an entertaining movie. I'm a huge fan of the books and was very curious about the movie adaption. I kept my expectations low, so I wasn't disappointed, as many of the other fans seem to be.

To start of, just because there is a speaking animal in it, doesn't mean this is a movie for children (what also applies to the books). Of course you can watch it with your kids,I don't think that there's content in it which could disturb them, but I don't think they would enjoy it very much. The humour is based on political an social topics and I don't think that little children will get that.

I really liked the actors especially Dimitrij Schaad and Rosalie Thomass did a good job and the other ones weren't disappointing. The kangaroo is stunning, the emotions were very good captured and the look of it really merged in the whole look of the movie. Also I think, that it was a great choice that it was synchronize by Mark-Uwe Kling himself. I feel that many fans just wanted a strait copy from the books what the movie is not. Although there are many insiders, and situations you may really get when you know the books. But for me the new, slight changes weren't bad, I really liked seeing something more of the kanguru universe than just the book plot. I really appriciate the details and references in the bacgrounds of the locations, especially the shared flat. One other thing I really like is the allusive narrative.

Unfortunate the timing of some jokes isn't as good as it could be and some are just set bad. The plot isn't as mature as I wished it to be. I mean the focus here is led on the gags and the critic mesage but a little more justification or character motivations wouldn't have been bad. Especially the political attitudes of the characters, which lead to a lot of funny moments in the books weren't played out so well. In the books intresting discussions and conflicts grow out of the different opinions and attitudes, in the movie not so much. The same applies to the friendships beneath the main characters, here they're very superficial, sometimes seem even forced or none existent, in the books you have different dynamics, with small preferences in interest, which both leads to more conflict, fun and subplot, what makes it feel real. One big point I have trouble with is this Nazi gang. At first I don't understand there costumes. Why do they look like scavengers or steampunks in some scence? I mean I get the intention, but wouldn't it be much more scary when they just look normal, like most nazis do? I also don't always get their motivation and drawing them just as gawky, dumb, punchers is a little to easy for my opinion. That for example was also much better in the books and one thing I really, really missed here.

There was the chance to create something unconventional new. I think the fanbase would have appreciated that attempt. Now it's a a bit better than mediocre movie with a slight negative "German-movie" undertone and wasted potential. Though, as fan I really enjoyed watching it anyway.

This movie is even worse than I expected. Even with *no* expectations this movie isn't any fun.

In contrast to the (audio) books which *are* funny, the movie is not because of the stupid story and very silly jokes. The situational comic from the books is not transported to the movie.

The movie looks like it has been written by a child without understanding the philosophy behind the Kangaroo Chronicles.

It is so boring, I fell asleep while watching. The only thing I could like in this movie is the animation of the Kangaroo which is quite good.

I have not done so, but I imagine the audio books are really good. Actually friends who have read (or listened to, no pun intended) to the books say so. And I tend to believe them.

I also have never read any Paddington stuff - but when it comes to suspend of disbelief. And actually you have to believe to live in a world where a talking Kangaroo is "normal". Like a talking bear - if you catch my drift. Not that the "roo" isn't hunted (the police being one of those looking for it/him). But considering what it would mean in the real world if you had a talking animal - any animal for that matter ... it would be quite something.

The beginning of the movie will inform you, if it is worth your time. First off: the humor. You should know if that is something you think is funny or not (annoying). Then you also get the animal itself bugging our "hero" - who is quite patient with the animal/neighbor ... soon to be roommate.

Not a super great movie, but one that I thought was quite funny. But again you really have to dig what it does ... which I reckon comes across better in book form ... still, more than a decent effort.

No fun, no plot. That's all I have to say. Didn't laugh, didn't sweep away.

I am a great Fan of the original Triology and I went into this movie being afraid of nobody can reach the books level in a film. I was surprised very positively and me and my friends were laughing a lot! The story is subtitled by new and old jokes, so both fans and all the others can enjoy it!

I have been living for almost 4 years in Germany... and Im still not fully understanding the culture... I also read the first part of the book... Well the humor for me is not so great (in general german humor...), but the movie isn't complete rubbish either... I think germans may find it really funny... I probably have prejudices and am tired of the cliques at the moment, so I am biased to judge.. The movie is also pretty political. Connotation to AfD (the right extremist party) etc. which is for me not were interesting.. Also the Kreuzberg multi culti, the späti etc. for many non-german viewers may be "lost in translation". I was deciding between 6 and 7.. the ending was quiet weird...

3 stars are awarded for the kangaroo animation. Otherwise, the question is why you have to produce such a film at all. One would have "simply" used a drawing style to take out the actor discussion and to put the quick, precise jokes on point.

So it's just a normal German movie and in international comparison it's just 3 Imdb stars. Does money eat your brain here, Mr.Kling?

If you're expecting any new comedy in this movie: no, there isn't. If you're expecting the movie is at least made in the same dry comedy way like the books: nope, it's made in a comedian way maybe even Till Schweiger would be embarrassed of. The film maker took all of the book jokes and put them into slapstick contexts that it's just cringy.

And then these quotations of Pulp Fiction or The big Lebowski. The movie quoted it. But no further jokes / extension. It just took the same dialogs. Like you didn't see those movies.

Super bad movie, although the the novels are great. Made for an audience without a brain. Sad :(

Nothing of this film made fun or any sense. All characters were completely over the top and totally unbelievable in their role.

Typical german movie plot:

It rings at the door.

"I need this and this and that for a pancake." "uhhhh...um...ok." "I also use your kitchen and make a big mess" "Uhhh, well...ok" "And I'll move in with you bag and baggage and turn everything upside down." "Well, ummmm...okay" "You don't know me, except that I'm a kangaroo and a communist, but you probably don't care, do you?" "Yeah, um...ok" Pretty stupid and far-fetched, right?? Welcome to the world of german comedies.

I don't know if people in Berlin would actually react that way, but any normal person would probably have kicked such a person out onto the street. Kangaroo or not.

Four people thoroughly entertained here! The writing was witty and funny, with biting satirical comedy and the right amount of slapstick. I had never heard of the book before seeing the trailer to this movie, and the animated kangaroo intrigued me. The movie didn't disappoint. The special effects for the kangaroo are perfect and his attitude his hilarious. The story was an affectionate hommage to the "Kiez" culture in Berlin and the political humour consisted of well-placed blows against right-wing parties and extremists in Germany. We haven't laughed this much since "Der Schuh des Manitu" - if only German cinema would produce more comedy movies with this quality.

I'm surprised at all the negative reviews on here because I saw it tonight at the Canberra German Film Festival and loved it. Although I note that a lot of them come from people familiar with the books and audio. All I can say if they're funnier and more satirical than this they must be really something!

Yes it's silly. To me that's part of its charm (perhaps being brought up on British comedy). It's something to me refreshingly different playing with the fourth wall etc. I'm studying German and got some of the in-jokes, including all the ones about Kreuzburg.

BTW, the audience included a number of other Canberra German language students and native German teachers who loved it.

The movie is great, but it's only half as good if you don't know the books. It's the best German film I've ever seen, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way at all. The SFX are extremely good considering the fact that the movie probably didn't have the budget of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Well done 👍🏼 I loved it and I would be happy to hear the news about part 2 😎

Saw this last night as part of the German Film Festival in Sydney (my mate scored a couple of free passes in a giveaway).

Along with the rest of the theatre, we barely stopped laughing the whole time we were in there.

To get most of the jokes you'd want to be able to appreciate dark comedy, have a extremely basic understanding of the idea of communism (1min with google will do) and be able to consider the idea that Trump isn't the first or only politician of that kind in the world.

Probably also helps if you leave the kids at home - yeah, the movie has a talking animal. Doesn't mean it's a good watch for them.

Neither of us speak or read German, know much about German culture/the German movie scene, have read (or knew of the existence of) the books the movie is based on etc. There was the rare occasion where we obviously missed a joke, maybe because of the above - but they were few and far between.

My only complaint at the end was that the movie wasn't longer.