Those Were the Days (2014) User Reviews

Nice comedy

[eg-narold · 6/10 · 12 April 2014]

Nice comedy after a most successful series with the same name on television.

Some fragments are really comic but the film is not a jewel. Why not? The casting is the problem; not the story nor the acting. The stepmother of Jaap Kooijman is not the woman with a strong dominant character which was needed for the role. The yoga-teacher is not the womanizer that the maker of the film wanted us to believe in. The romance between him and Nel is rather silly and unbelievable. Nevertheless, the film is an nice comedy with a good storyline. I recommend visiting.

Lacks the Series Charm

[Zooha-47207 · 4/10 · 13 February 2024]

As a huge fan of the Toen was geluk heel gewoon series, which I would easily rate 10/10, my expectations for the 2014 movie were high. Unfortunately, it only managed to earn a 4/10 from me. The film, lasting 1h 27m, seems to miss the mark when it comes to recreating the charm and warmth that made the series so beloved.

One of the key issues with the movie is that it feels a bit forced. The effortless humor and natural flow that characterized the series seem to be missing here. Instead, the performances come across as overdone, lacking the original's subtlety and genuineness.

Another aspect that didn't sit well with me is the movie's attempt to be more modern. It seems to try too hard to prove a point or stay relevant, losing sight of what made the original series special. The series was celebrated for its simplicity and its reflection of everyday life; the movie, however, diverges from this, opting for a more contemporary approach that doesn't quite fit.

In summary, while I'm a huge admirer of the series, the movie version of Toen was geluk heel gewoon didn't live up to the legacy. It's a shame, as I had high hopes for a film adaptation of a series I hold in such high regard.