Regel nr. 1 (2003) User Reviews

Rule No. 1: Men Are Pigs

[McBuff · 6/10 · 3 May 2004]

With the possible exception of love interest Sebastian (played by Levin), virtually all the male characters in this movie are depicted as selfish and complete b******s. (Chick flic Rule No. 1?)

Two sisters meet again after four years. One walked out on the other before a kidney transplant, so naturally they don't hit it off right away. Circumstances during a birthday party changes things somewhat, and they move in together and start going out, mainly to find the perfect guy for one of them.

A paperthin premise, but surprisingly realistic and compelling, thanks to Susanne Juhasz' winning and sincere performance. Mira Wanting plays the other self-centered sister. Stand-up comedians Mick Øgendahl and Carsten Bang appear in pointless cameos.

Not for all tastes, but funny and played with conviction. Juhasz' disastrous date with Nicolas Bro is as hilarious as it is embarrassing. Incidentally, alternate ending (available on DVD) changes film's message completely!

the good, the bad, and the ugly

[arnold57 · 2/10 · 29 July 2004]

The good -- a surprising debut for director Oliver Ussing. The bad -- the truly awful script: shallow, predictable, unsophisticated, or shall I say -- amateurish The ugly -- most of the cast -- come on Herr Ussing -- you could have done better: unappealing cast dramatically and physically (with minor exceptions: Thomas Levin; Nicholas Bro.

I was pleasantly surprised by the mature directorial style of newcomer Ussing, the rest of the film is truly forgettable.

I won't dwell on the plot or its lack of logic, but why cast actresses as sisters who don't have the slightest resemblance to each other...and why is one sporting a jylland accent whereas the other one has a "Copenhagener" -- where are the parents of the sisters supposed to come from?

And what's the point of the physical infirmity? How does it contribute to the plot?

Just because Danish films are riding high, one cannot do just about anything...

Better luck next time (and don't use the same screenwriter...)

Rule number one: Don't waste Your time and money

[bdmi_2003 · 1/10 · 14 November 2003]

Something has really happened in Danish movies the last 5-10 years. We've got some very capable actors/actresses, and the movie quality is steadily increasing.

This movie is the exception - that kind of exception that destroys otherwise nice statistics.

This movie is not only boring, it's down right embarassing. It seems somehow that they've made a movie with a lower budget than Your average Internet-bill and this shows both in the instruction, the locations, the story and least but not at all last on the actors --

Agreed - Mira Wanting is in no way bad looking, but it takes a little more than that to make a good movie after all. Her performance is bad and at times almost unbearable. This kind of actors should stay in the "afternoon soap business".

Susanne Juhász is by far the worst. I can't imagine why they've cast her. Her lines are delivered like it was an un-rehearsed audition in a foreign language and her general performance is almost making You feel physically ill.

I'm terribly sorry for the instructor, because I think this film would've been at least bearable if he had only had a few quality actors and a bit more money to raise this project to a decent level. In my opinion it's too bad that debut-instructors face these hard terms.

I admit that I laughed a few times when I saw it. A nervous non-deliberating laugh, probably at the "wrong" times. I didn't make it to the end of the film - I couldn't take it - I left the theater about 1 hour into the movie, and I wasn't the only one.

The title - "Regel Nummer 1" means "rule number 1" --

My rule number one is: Don't waste Your time and money.

I give this film a clear 1 which has means awful, and that word couldn't fit any movie better.

So many stereotypes...

[escaramuja · 12 November 2003]

It's definitely hard to be a single girl these days. And films like these only make it worse! It exploits each and every stereotype about single-young-woman is desperate to find someone to love her.

How many times have we heard this story on those "stupid American movies". But there we have! This film is European, and that seems the only reason why the Danish critics are so amazed by this film. Basically is an annoying movie without any sensible story in it. Whether it is American or Danish, I see no difference.

Danish movies hit new low.

[flemmingmertz · 1/10 · 8 November 2003]

Some of the latest Danish movies have actually been worth seeing, but since `De groenne slagtere' the quality has spiralled downwards. Just when you though it couldn't get worse, `Regel nummer et' proves you wrong.

The title means rule number one in Danish and perhaps the producers of this flick should have made their own first rule. `If you have no story, don't make a film'. There is absolutely no story in this film, and the humour that carried American Pie and movies that did not have any story either, just falls through in this case.

The actors in some cases look like they are trying to make fun of them selves; there is no story and no humour. Only bright spot is that Mira Wanting, one of the actors, is cute looking. However, when she stutters through her lines, you crouch down in your seat, and praise yourself that you don't know the poor girl.

So, to sum up; See this flick, if you are manically in love with Mira Wanting, one of the other actors or just loves humour that not even a first grade schoolgirl would regard as funny. If none of this is true for you, spend your money on American Wedding or similar movies. They don't pretend to be anything they're not.

Quite a pleasant surprise!

[filmfreak-5 · 10/10 · 29 October 2003]

I must say, after watching the commercials for this film (the trailers excluded, though..), I kinda feared that this would be another "Anja og Viktor"-style film - but I must admit to be wrong...and also pleasantly surprised!

The films brings up a lot of taboos in many ways, about what it means to be single in todays Danmark at the age of 25...(Hey, I'm even older and I still recognize a lot of these patterns and I must say it was kinda of confronting in many ways..)

The acting is very sadisfying on all parts, no exceptions - *** SMALL SPOILERS *** but what made me almost pee my pants was a little cameo by one of Zentropa's frontmen "Aalen", Peter Aalbæk Jensen... I won't tell you, you have to watch the film for that one..

Nicolas Bro, who is normally always typecasted as characters of very low intelligence, also has the opputunity to show his talent here. *** ANOTHER LITTLE SPOILER *** All right, the character IS somewhat crooked in many ways, but I must admit to have laughed through his entire performance (and yes, that WAS meant as a compliment)..

For once, actually, I'm so happily surprised, I cannot find anything bad about this movie....sure, when it has sunk in, maybe I can come up with a few things - but that's my point: In many ways I got in a great mood watching this film and I want it to shine through in this comment...and so what more can you ask for? :-)