Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
This film here is Til Schweiger's approach to a Middle Ages comedy. It is one of these rare cases where he did only direct the film without writing it. He got help from two co-directors, including Torsten Künstler with whom he already worked on several movies. And, of course, Schweiger also stars in it. It all comes down to rescuing princess Herzelinde and the ending is of course Schweiger's character and Herzelinde being a couple. The only thing I found kind of amusing is Thomas Gottschalk as the King. Everything else is really not funny, although down to the smallest roles this cast features very well known actors from Germany, as it's usually the case with Schweiger movies. And even the New Kids on the Block give a performance.The humor on this film is mostly based on mixing Middle Ages logic with references to today's modern world. One early example would be a knight tournament with a modern sports broadcast commentator. However, it gets repetitive pretty quickly and quickly isn't funny anymore if it ever has been. Also there is some suggestive humor included here and there with not so great wordplay gently-put. The antagonists are played by Udo Kier and Mark Keller, as we find out later in the film. All in all, it's a disappointing effort, possibly the biggest failure in Schweiger's career. But you can only partially blame him for that. The script was just a huge mess and maybe this movie is one of the main reasons why he has written his own movies afterward again. Also with a running time of almost two hours, it did drag at times. Not recommended.
Frederik Boersma
I just saw it at Lufthansa, maybe not the best motivation but I was pleasantly surprised anyway. For humor a German film would not be my first choice. I took the original German sound with English subtitles and appreciated that (being Dutch). The movie is not spectacular in its story or plot and has a classic happy end, but the mix between let's say full medieval scenery and very contemporary culture I found interesting and funny enough. For sure, there is some sex, but more as sound than image and on the level of relatively modest western moral standards, but I would say that adds to the fun of watching this movie. So why this movie? The photography is done very well, very nice to look at, spectacular fighting scenes sometimes, beautiful characters and clothing. It can be slow at times, and indeed never really hilarious, but actually I find that more of a compliment than when it would have gone over the top there. When you do not want a Hollywood film once again, don't want to be annoyed but instead just have entertaining watch time, this movie is a good choice.
liperta
In Vienna I watched this film in December 2008 in a 300 seated cinema with 10 people - one fast asleep.And I must admit my neighbor and me had troubles to stay awake. 1st comment after the end: langweiligggggg --> boring. He admitted I must have slept through the only joke in this film. And he was right. No one was laughing. Bohnensuppe must have been in a different film but not in 1 1/2 Ritter. Ritter Til Schweiger shows his saure Gurken face all the time while Herzelinde has to smile all the time. Best actor according to my neighbor : Rick Kavanian whose DANEBEN is the best joke of the film . That's why they showed him in the trailer. Looking at IMDb voting for 1 1/2 Ritter : the 1s have it. Go and see another Til Schweiger film because this one is certainly his most boring.
AccessCardRequired
What was that? A comedy? No, a drama, a big drama for Schweiger and his crew. Where to begin? Nearly every, and I mean every part of this movie doesn't work. The abundance of German TV stars can't help this monster of a failure. Worst of the line up is Thomas Gottschalk, a German TV Host. He plays the king to such a disgraceful performance, you wanna cry out load whenever he appears on the screen. The film is supposed to be comedy, but nobody in the theater I was sitting in laughed at the misguided jokes. But why did commercially successful director and actor Schweiger choose this script? We will never find out. The film is completely blown out of proportions, one supposedly joke chasing the next one, where the comedy simply doesn't work! There is no comedic timing, worse there is no direction in this film. Why on earth doesn't Schweiger trust an experienced director? He is clearly more at easy with romantic comedies such as his super success Keinohrhasen or Barefoot. No this Mr. Schweiger is a big dud. And you directed, stared and produced this monster - it is your fault. PLEASE save your money on this 15 Minute long bore of a film. It simply doesn't work at all.
AD
