Buddy (2003) User Reviews

Touching and warmly acted despite a forced plot and some feelgood manipulation

[secondtake · 6/10 · 30 December 2012]

Buddy (2003)

A quirky low budget film with a strain of realism holding its absurdity together. There are some implausible twists of plot, and a general feeling that it could have been both more poignant and more tightly edited. But it is most of all very sweet, and because of that it's touching and a nice film, something to watch with expectations in check.

The key here is really the straight forward storytelling style, the ordinary camera-work, the feeling that contemporary Norway looks and feels a bit like this. There is a sadness to a lot of it that seems forced and yet is moving. The romantic encounters are believable and just wrong and awkward enough to remind us of what it was like to be 20-something and completely tossed around in relationships.

In fact, the best of this movie--two or three of the leading actors, for starters--is so good and natural you only wish it had the rest of its act in order. But then, if you make it to the end, you'll either smile or cry because you'll be a bit attached to the actors by then. Fun.

Intriguing Movie...

[miss_nailstabber · 7/10 · 18 January 2006]

I was channel surfing the other night and happened to stumble upon this movie. Firstly thinking it was a French movie I watched. When realizing it was Norwegian I watched on with intrigue. It was a very interesting movie about 3 friends, their rise to fame and the trials and obstacles of their very complex friendship. Funny how coincidences can change you life, or in this case Kristoffer's. Running away from authorities from yet another "JAckAss" style daredevil task, he drops some tapes. Unaware that TV executives have picked up these tapes, he goes on his day to day life in his dead end job as a board painter receiving the phone call that could change his life from an unknown being into a famous star.

Kristoffer, Stig Inge and Geir are in this partnership together and they go through their life of fame together. However Stig Inge has serious problems with life outside of his SHopping centre home and rarely makes it to these functions. Eventually Kristoffer finds himself alone at these functions with only him and the price of fame to blame.

At the end, Kristoffer does the honourable thing and realizes that fame is not worth throwing away valuable friendships for, and at the same time realizing who his true love is. Wonderful movie..fantastically sculpted a picture of what a friendship should be like.

Great Romantic Comedy

[slake09 · 8/10 · 20 July 2007]

This is one of the best romantic comedies I've seen in a long time. Not only does it bring some originality to the genre, the characters are explored in some depth and the acting is up to anyone's standards.

Our protagonist loses his girlfriend, has a brief fling with a roommate and then....well, that's where the originality starts. The cast of characters is an offbeat crew of sign painters, slackers, neurotic web designers and environmental activists, all of them looking to make the world a better place in the midst of their love affairs and financial woes.

This is a great date movie; it raises some issues that are worth discussing in the car on the way home; you may even get away with letting your hand stray off the gearshift to your date's thigh.

I've seen other Norwegian movies and enjoyed them quite a bit, the most notable being Svidd Neger. There is a vein of sly humor running through these movies that gives them the little extra they needed to stand out in a world of generic Hollywood romances.

norwegian good

[wickedandlazy · 1 November 2003]

Warm, humorous, boisterous, sensitive, naive and yes, maybe a little cliched, Buddy is a thoroughly enjoyable and fun film. I would highly recommend it.

If I'm honest, it wasn't a million miles from being yet another 'quirky' American teen feel-good film (American pie meets Jackass with a Graduate ending)... but, it would take a very cold and cynical heart not to warm to its eager and honest portrayal of wide eyed and bushy tailed Nowegian youth.

Despite some of the clumsy and obvious manipulations, it's got its heart in the right place... and if that's good enough for Stig, that's good enough for me.

Buddy (2003) — Of sensible Norwegian romance and friendship

[AvidClimber · 7/10 · 30 November 2012]

Buddy is a movie that offers a good mix of laughter, friendship, and romance, with a dash of drama.

Compared to a fictive Hollywood version of this flick, its tone definitively much more nuanced. At first the two best friends start as very emotionally immature young men, but without exaggeration. Every character evolves, but sensibly. There are romantic gestures, but nothing over the top. The only thing to muddle those calm waters is at the very end. In real life nobody would do that, but it's easy to excuse it given the quality of the overall performance.

The scenario is nothing new, yet interesting enough with a wide variety elements combined in a pretty homogeneous fashion. You'll have a pleasant evening watching this film.

A comfortable movie

[jie_slack · 6/10 · 15 September 2004]

The first half of the movie felt fresh and i don't see many Norwegian movies, but with the inner city and young hipp youths in the center of the movie it didn't feel that different from any other Scandinavian movie. What i liked was some of the short jokes with/from the supporting casts. The story itself felt a little like ED-TV with similar sub-plots. I'm a bit disappointed at the ending, as it felt a bit cliché but thats something that was expected of course with the evolving story pushing for it too obvious. Some of the setting and cast were good though, and some minor good jokes. A comfortable movie to watch.

I rate it 3/5.

great in its simplicity

[FilmLabRat · 9/10 · 19 January 2004]

An absolutely awesome movie, Buddy takes the audience into the lives of three guys in a flat who end up on television with convoluted consequences. Their lives will never be the same, and only the discovery of true loyalty and redemptive friendship can make the situation and experiences into something positive. The transformation is quite moving and the characters seem very real, everyday people. Equally interesting, the film crosses documentary with cinema story to interface and comment on "reality TV." Kudos.

In spite of the seeming capitulation to Hollywood-style romance and happy endings - very uncharacteristic of Norwegian films - this is an outstanding story about status, using people, allegiance to success and stardom vs. allegiance to caring for human beings, especially friends. "Buddy" goes through somewhat annoying yo-yo relationships that need more definition and less reliance on fickle happenstance. The choices are not black and white, and the characters struggle in them. The topical relevance (to 'reality' TV) is especially poignant. In spite of the over-emphasis on finding romance and happiness in loyalty and responsibility, I give it 9/10. One of the most provocative, "real" yet uplifting European films of the year. Worth watching multiple times.

pleasant movie

[toast-15 · 7/10 · 1 September 2011]

I really liked this film. It reminded me of Four Weddings and a Funeral with the ensemble cast and gentle comedy/drama genre that involves friends and lovers, misunderstandings and miscommunications. The actors are pretty believable in their roles and the characters stay with you even after the film has ended. Kristopher (Nicolai Cleve Broch) keeps a video diary of silly, goofy exploits that he and his friend Geir (Aksel Hennie) perform while tooling around town in between hanging up billboard signs. They are twenty-something and carefree until love and other commitments vie for their attention. Kristopher is well meaning and sometimes finds it difficult to navigate his life. The two friends decide to move in with Stig Inge (Anders Baasmo Christiansen). They barely know Stig but as one of them puts it, the "rent is cheap". They end up becoming very chummy with their new roommate and when Stig offers a room for rent to another new roommate, Henriette (Pia Tjelta) they become chummy with her too. Kristopher is unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend at the beginning of the film. He is very hurt by this but she continually gives him the brush off whenever he tries to reconcile the relationship. During one particular dangerous escapade around town, Kristopher drops some of his video tapes while being chased by a security guard... and then the fun begins.

It was nice to see how people in other countries live. And it was nice to see how other countries look as well. I thought it showed how we are all alike in some ways; probably more alike than not. In the vast expanse of the universe, we all inhabit the same blue planet and we really do have common basic needs like love, life, and laughter. Buddy is a very heart warming movie with good character development. Definitely see it if you can.

I'm glad i stayed up to see this

[whiteutopia · 9/10 · 14 March 2006]

I was originally planning to go to sleep but then i saw a few minutes of Buddy . I ended up watching it till past midnight. It's about three friends, Kristoffer, Geir & Stig Igne. They live in the "Toyen center " . More information from other comments. Buddy must be one the best heart-warming movies i've ever seen ! I didn't expect this much from a foreign film . I loved the characters , Kristoffer, Henriette, Geir & Stig Igne. They were all very unique and had some great characteristics. Nice acting and i especially loved the ending ! It was more than i expected ! It definitely put a smile on my face. I give it 9/10 and i certainly recommend it to those who would like to see some nice decent romance .

A beautiful movie about love and friendship

[Einarr01 · 7/10 · 10 March 2012]

Even though it does not start as promising as it turns out to be, this movie is a wonderful reflection of what down-to-Earth cinema of today should be. At first I was a little bit reluctant to see this title, as if it didn't appear to be appealing to my liking. Yet, after reconsidering and actually watching it, I must admit that it's a brilliant movie that displays human interaction, in terms of love and friendship, in a very simplistic way, that is perfection of its own kind. The twists and turns into the movie are a very nicely thought way of portraying the love between the characters, having them growing up as individuals together with that, and actually having to take the responsibilities of the adults' life, abandoning the trouble-less carefree existence (yet not to full extent). A thing that impressed me a lot into this movie was the very realistic, without any unneeded drama and overacting, way that shows the troublesome life of Stig Inge - one of the main characters of the movie - who is constantly followed by his anxiety and fear to live a normal life outside the boundaries of Tøyen - a neighborhood in Oslo where most of the action of the movie takes place. A movie that would have been a complete failure if it took the wrong turn of falling for the part of portraying the "reality show like" way of life of the main characters, instead used it as a tool to show the viewer what really matters instead of the misconception of fame and glory, and in the same time to remain nice and simplistic to what it should really be after it all - a perfect movie about love and friendship. I give 9 out of 10 just because I could use a tiny bit better camera work, yet it remains one of the best Norwegian movies I've seen by far.

Polished average shallow audience pleaser

[hamdan · 4/10 · 23 August 2003]

It a bit peculiar that a story that is placed in a part of Oslo where a very high percentage of the local residents is from an Asian background does NOT EVEN SHOW ONE ASIAN OR AFRICAN person, not even as an extra. That fact probably describes Norwegian race relations in general. - However.

NO SPOILERS - ONLY A BRIEF INTRODUCTORY DESCRIPTION:

Buddy portrays four young people living in a flat-share in Oslo. The protagonist are two young men that don't manage to direct their life in any serious fashion, and one might say that the film could be about being indecisive and avoiding responsibility - a sort of fear of growing up. The narrative plays on typical teenage dreams and fantasies and lifestyle role models. Quite the cliché. Although the story is mildly funny, the acting is good and as a 'young person' one can sort of identify with the characters `crazy' situations and complicated love affairs, I don't find the story or the characters very believable. To polished and lacking in depth. This film uses all the classic audience pleasing tricks to make an entertaining film that has as much intellectual depth as `Friends' (yes that show on TV).

Has Norwegian film finally found its identity?: Audience pleasers in well known American style.

How about watching Lukas Moodysson's Tillsammans (Together).

While it starts off a bit slowly, stick with it as it's worth the wait

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 28 October 2007]

As the summary says, this film starts out a bit slowly but it is important that you stick with it since the movie is excellent overall. The story is about a working-class guy, Kristoffer and his relationships. While Kristoffer is wrapped up in relationships with two women (which he balances VERY poorly), his interaction with his two room mates (Geir and Stig Inge) were the most interesting aspect of the film to me.

It seems that the little video clips Kristoffer has been making with his pocket video camera have accidentally fallen into the hands of a Norwegian TV producer. Some of them are akin to stunts from the American show, "Jackass", while others are just day to day activities the three men are involved in as they are room mates. Oddly, when they are shown on TV, the three become instant small-time celebrities and instead of life getting better for the guys, things get much worse and quite strained.

While the plot is a bit easy to predict in some places (particularly regarding Kristoffer's girlfriends), the predictability isn't a serious detriment because it's such a nice and quirky sort of film--the sort you'll only see in foreign and independent films. Plus, there are enough surprises and good acting that the overall effort is very pleasant to watch and well worth a look. While not a perfect film, this does demonstrate that good stuff is coming out of Norway and I loved the relationship that blossoms between Kristoffer and Stig Inge.

Tyldum's Debut

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 12 December 2014]

Kristoffer (Nicolai Cleve Broch) is a billboard hanger, 24 years old and carefree. When his girlfriend Elisabeth (Janne Formoe) dumps him for the boss of her trend bureau, his life falls into pieces.

As of 2014, director Morten Tyldum has only made four films over a 12-year period (this being his first). While this one is simple (even incorporating the use of home video footage), it is rather effective and was well-received in Norway. Now that Tyldum is getting international recognition with "The Imitation Game", many more people will likely discover this title for the first time.

While this is not the sort of film that would have received Oscar attention, it is the sort of film that can launch a hugely successful career. And for that it may be worth checking out.

not bad at all...

[bava-1 · 23 August 2003]

One can forgive the fact that this is more than just a little bit inspired by Ben Stillers film Reality Bites. Simply because it works as just what it is. This is not a demanding film, but a feel good adventure from beginning to end. At times it turns a bit "CLICHE". But it leaves you with a big smile and a good start for a night at the town.

Funny, but with better characters than plot

[peefyn · 7/10 · 4 April 2017]

This is a fun and charming movie. The premise of its movie was very of its time, and perhaps even a bit ahead of it. It's about a young man who films much of what happens between him and his friends (the people he shares a flat with), almost like a vlog, and it ends up in the hands of some talkshow produces, who asks to use it as a segment in their show. And this was years before Youtube and smartphones.

The best thing about this movie is the characters, as it's a joy to follow them in their adventures. And, perhaps except the main character, they all have a certain depth to them. But then there's the love story to be told, and this part of the movie is perhaps the least interesting. The dramatic dialogue and the situations that arises as a part of the love story, often feels forced and in the way of the fun part of the film: the fun life of the main characters. The "other two guys" (not involved in the love story) have more interesting side plots, that could have easily been the main conflicts of the movie instead of the love triangle it mostly focuses on.

This, and the fact that the movie is perhaps a bit longer than it should have been, does not stop it from being a good movie, though.

Realistic depiction of attitudes and relations created by modern Western society

[BeneCumb · 7/10 · 20 March 2015]

Shallow communication and relationships, different fears, desire to prolong youthhood - those are among the characteristics the wealthier Western societies are known at present. And due to relative material welfare, they are materialised in reality shows and alike, but as not all of people are fascinated by them, lots of problems and tensions arise. All this is presented in the Norwegian film called Buddy - in a pleasantly romantic manner, with some sad and some funny undertones. All major performances are also good, particularly Nicolai Cleve Broch as Kristoffer and Axel Hennie as Geir, but the pace and spirit decline somehow as the story goes, paving the way for ordinary pre-ending and ending not in a witty Scandinavian style.

As I expected a more seamless course of events, I would give 7 points "only", but Buddy is still a good example of Scandinavian films, plus a fine first long feature film by Morten Tyldum, whose Headhunters and Imitation Game have particularly shown his talent and abilities.

Norwegian "jackasses"

[fablesofthereconstru-1 · 8/10 · 11 September 2008]

"It's just like "Jackass", but with a heart," describes the television producer about his latest discovery, a video diary documenting the exploits of three twenty-something bachelors in varying states of arrested development, that he wants to premiere as a new segment on some daytime talk show. But before the host signs off on his boss' latest concept, he asks Kristoffer(Nicolai Cleve Broche) if Stig Inge(Anders Baasmo Christiansen), an agoraphobic, will be able to withstand the attention and public scrutiny that a television personality unconditionally merits. Sensing the truth about his roommate's neurosis as being a potential deal-breaker, Kristoffer agrees with his employer's coercive assertion that Stig Inge is only acting, just like any person in the reality TV genre.

For now, the gig is a boom for Kristoffer, but it's only delaying the inevitable reckoning; that fateful day he compares his younger self on videotape with the face staring back at him in the mirror. Before this stroke of luck, Elisabeth(Jane Formoe), a partner at a PR firm, breaks up with Kristoffer soon after he resists her gentle needling that he commit more fully to their relationship? And who can blame her? When she visits Kristoffer to get her house key back, he's playing table hockey with Geir(Aksel Hennie) in a residence more suitable for young adults fresh out of college. Suddenly without a girlfriend, Kristoffer realizes that he and Geir need careers(they hang advertisements on billboards), but before this epiphany has a chance to really sink in, the television station calls and growing up is put on hold.

Borrowing a page from Swedish filmmaker Lars Von Trier, this Norwegian production has an English title. While "Buddy" is not a caustic film by any means, Norwegian culture has clearly been subordinated by American popular culture in the lives of Kristoffer and Geir, whose work is clearly derived from the MTV reality show starring Johnny Knoxville. Just like a real American, these two Norwegian males seem to have fallen into an interminable adolescence. After Geir jumps out of a five-story window, American rock music(in the alternative vein) accompanies Kristoffer's escape from the TV station's security-men. Those dropped tapes lead to their "Jackass"-inspired antics being aired to public acclaim, an endorsement of American's worst excesses, which makes jackasses out of the Norwegian people. Although Kristoffer is essentially the same "Charlie's Angels" t-shirt-wearing layabout he was before the split, Elisabeth returns to him, despite the fact that's he's getting his money for nothing; despite the fact of being a real jackass when he betrays Geir by airing his personal life to the viewing public.

While shooting a group of kids kicking around a soccer ball, Kristoffer finds Geir's kid among the assembling bodies. The stuntman can longer hold back the years. When Kristoffer points his camera towards Geir on some high scaffolding, we realize that his daredevil work is an act of fatalism, not bravery, or rather, post-bravery that stems from having a death wish. While the sequence of this drama unravels, Kristoffer expressed his own maturity through film-making. This time, Geir's derring-do has a context, unlike previous stunts that revealed nothing about this secret father except his own apparent stupidity. Context is what Kristoffer needed, too. Henriette(Pia Tjelta) gives the filmmaker context, whom he freezes on his display panel. Adulthood transformed Kristoffer's aesthetics, now it'll transform his life.

Grilled by another talk show host about how Kristoffer's films continue to exploit a mentally-disturbed man, the talk show host defends himself by insisting that Stig Inge is an actor. To help ward off further criticism, the friendly introvert consents to a live appearance, and predictably, he freezes in front of the camera. Although "Buddy" lays the blame on Kristoffer for bamboozling the producer and host, it's hard to believe that people in the television industry would care one way or another if Stig Inge was an actor or not. It's all about ratings, not ethics. "Buddy" wants to show that Norwegian television is more ethical than American television, so it makes Kristoffer the scapegoat when Stig Inge melts down. To calm his subject down, the filmmaker becomes a friend, and sings a soccer fight song to relieve Stig Inge of all the attention. In this moment, Kristoffer comes full circle; he's a different man from that other guy who filmed his subject outside the grocery store, unable to pick up a soda can that rolled past his safety zone.

Kristoffer loses his show, and just in time. He can't be a jackass for the rest of his life.

I am into foreign films and this was interesting because i haven't really seen too much out of Norway.

[bremnerroberts · 8/10 · 7 August 2007]

I ordered this movie on Netflix, when i was looking through the foreign section. I didn't really know what it was about but i was willing to give it a chance. I ended up digging it and thinking that it is a pretty cool story of friendship and adversity that you go through with real friends. Then i realized that i recognized one of the characters, the one named Geir. i realized that i had seen another one of his movies (from Netflix), about a week earlier called UNO. I would recommned this movie because it is not too heavy but yet you are invested in the story and the characters and want to see how everything ends up. Anyway, i hope this helps.

Great

[Faragrim · 9/10 · 3 January 2004]

This must be one of the best movies that has been produced in Norway for a long, long time. Norwegian movies have had a big lift-up the last couple of years and "Buddy" is the proof of it. The movie is about three guys living together. Two of them, Kristoffer and Geir, are making a sort of video diary, where they do different stuff, like jumping out of windows in to big trash cans. This they "break into" TV2 (major Norwegian TV-Channel) to do. They get discovered and make a run for it. Kristoffer stumbles and drop a bunch of his tapes. A show-host sees one of these tapes and thinks it would be great mini to have in his show. He contacts the guys and the main story begins. In addition there's alot about Kristoffer's love life, Geir's problem with the fact (a fact he keeps hidden from everyone else) that he has a child with a girl he went to school with and the third roommate, Stig Inge, who has some problems leaving the immediate area around the flat.

When I first saw the trailer to the movie I thought it was just another lousy Norwegian film. But I changed my mind after my school went to see it. It may have many cliches(?), but it something about it that makes you look around them and truly enjoy the movie. It is indeed a great movie. You should see it.

Quite close to teenagers preferences

[muselk · 10/10 · 8 May 2005]

I'm really happy that i saw such a well-done movie not only because of the characters but also because of the soundtracks which fit perfectly with the main idea.I liked very much Stig Inge but of course Henriette and Kristoffer,they played with professionalism and had no hesitance in what concerns their roles.I'd say that European people can do great movies and it's not necessary for the American to come on with their ideas.When i first saw the movie i was amazed by how the actors did their "job",how they acted actually.It's not so easy to play roles like they did.They were chosen for this movie as well to send us a message,and only by their gesture you can easily say that young people live their lives intensely and without the fear of something happening.The message that i received was absolutely strong.Teenagers and those living their lives with their friends far from their parents should explore everything ,should live their every feeling and shouldn't care about people who just try to keep them away.There can be many other messages but maybe i have to watch for the 4th time the movie for a better understanding.Anyway it's worth to give 10!

Makes you cherish friendship

[chrisbunas · 8/10 · 8 February 2004]

Its not every day you see a movie that really gets under your skin! As said before , this movie is so charming with its simplicty! A must-see for everyone with an intressed in real life, and not only the 007 world. Enjoy!

Buddy

[rock_and_roll_my_world · 10/10 · 25 September 2005]

"Buddy" has to be the best movie I have seen in a very long while. I loved the way the film started with the home videos before going to the complete plot, because, normally, the first and last scenes are either the most important or the "sappy love story" moments. This really showed what these men did with their lives (i.e. nothing very important). The lighting throughout the film was what really caught my attention. There were so many moments when it was almost pitch black and you could hardly see the characters. In this film it was a very effective style, making the emotions much more raw and true to life. That is a successful feat considering most Americans are used to movies having the room bright when it is supposed to be dark or nighttime....

I'm sitting here by my computer and I can't help but grin foolishly because this movie made me feel just that good. I hardly ever give films a perfect score, 10 out of 10, but just this weekend I gave two films a perfect score.

Real Life entertainment...

[zegora · 10/10 · 10 October 2003]

Absolutely great movie. This one is a winner if you're considering inviting that girl/boy you've liked from 5th grade to Cinema.

Roles are well played by young and hopeful actors from Norway. They are making the movie trustworthy and REAL!

The movie is about 3 blokes living together. One of them, Kristoffer, with a special interest in filming decides to accept an offer where he's supposed to film his ordinary daily life with his friends. They're series is a great success from day one, but everything is not the way it should be. Fame and glory tests they're friendship...

The Movie is full of joyful moments and isn't rushing away. Every scene is well planned and gives you detailed view as both love and friendship are being put to a test.

All you need to do is sit down, relax and enjoy this masterpiece!

Proof that Norwegian movies is getting better.

[udeaasykle · 8/10 · 24 February 2004]

This is a very "feel good" movie, at least that is how i felt after watching it. It is very simple, there is not deep poetic conversations and that is what makes it so easy to like, cause you as a person can relate to what you are seeing. The characters feel really real and easy to like. I give this movie an 8.

Tiresome, phony, and manipulative soap opera

[jm10701 · 17 June 2011]

Sometimes I feel sorry for straight people. They live such dull, constipated little lives that they really have nothing to make movies about, and yet they make them anyway. The results are so boring and trite (but they think they're great) that it makes me sad... until I remember that they have ALL the power, and then my sympathy evaporates and I get angry.

Buddy is a shallow, phony, sappy, manipulative, irritating soap opera about shallow jerks getting googly-eyed and sappy over girls and each other, circling and elbowing their rivals and strutting and posing and pouting and throwing tantrums, and, and, and... it makes me want to pull my hair out and wail with Peggy Lee, "Is that all there IS?" Is THAT what makes life worth living for straight people? Strutting and gobbling and rutting like turkeys? No wonder they are such goons.

Other reviewers have said Nicolai Cleve Broch should be a big Hollywood star, and I could not agree more. That is exactly where he belongs. Boring as hell and thick as a post, but he is a HUNK, and he is a SENSITIVE hunk, and, Man, can he pout!

It was not just that "guy" stuff that was tiresome - the women were just as bad, with a lot of anguished melodrama over the neurotic guy who could not leave his neighborhood, and the cute kid who just needed his DAD, and the good girl vs the hard-hearted harpy (guess who won!), and the miracle-working power of friendship, and blah blah blah - it just wore me out!

I guess straight people like this kind of stuff, and maybe some gays too... How would I know? It made me angry and nauseous and TIRED, and I was relieved when it was finally over. This movie is about as subtle and intelligent and interesting as a Bugs Bunny cartoon.