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.
