I loved the TV series, and unlike most of the reviews, I loved the movie. It was very sad, when Patrik was crying in the car, and watching him grieve in the months that followed, it was heart breaking. But at the same time, it's life. Yes it's not a "love and light" hilarious comedy family movie, not at all. But it is honest. Life is messy. Many couples should break up and don't. The arguing and the way they just couldn't see each other, Patrik's over apologising, Lisa's narcissism, the total dysfunction of the whole family, it's not that uncommon. Finding a sense of myself within their mess was somehow comforting.
I had hoped for love and a happy ending for Patrik and Lisa, but I appreciated the realness that is accepting when it just doesn't work. It was tongue-in-cheek and awkward that Patrik started things back up with Elin at the end, but I think that was just the producers/writers having a laugh. I also appreciated that we got to see some of the character favourites (like William's maternal grandmother) at the boys birthday party.
Overall, the movie isn't neat and tidy, it doesn't give a perfect closure, it doesn't include all of the series characters, it doesn't try to be a "festive romantic comedy movie" and that's why it's special. Patrik gave his sweat, blood and tears to make bonus family life work. Reflecting back to the series, Eddie was struggling at school, they got pregnant for the second time, gosh, remember when the boys fell of the roof? Madness and mayhem, mostly on account of Lisa. She constantly lies to Patrik yet there is something fun and endearing about her. We understand why they love each other. Sad, bittersweet, honest, human, messy, real life. The actors did amazingly.
I had hoped for love and a happy ending for Patrik and Lisa, but I appreciated the realness that is accepting when it just doesn't work. It was tongue-in-cheek and awkward that Patrik started things back up with Elin at the end, but I think that was just the producers/writers having a laugh. I also appreciated that we got to see some of the character favourites (like William's maternal grandmother) at the boys birthday party.
Overall, the movie isn't neat and tidy, it doesn't give a perfect closure, it doesn't include all of the series characters, it doesn't try to be a "festive romantic comedy movie" and that's why it's special. Patrik gave his sweat, blood and tears to make bonus family life work. Reflecting back to the series, Eddie was struggling at school, they got pregnant for the second time, gosh, remember when the boys fell of the roof? Madness and mayhem, mostly on account of Lisa. She constantly lies to Patrik yet there is something fun and endearing about her. We understand why they love each other. Sad, bittersweet, honest, human, messy, real life. The actors did amazingly.