Review of Børning

Børning (2014)
7/10
Surprisingly entertaining Norwegian take on Cannonball Run
18 August 2014
Børning, which is Norwegian slang for "burn out" is a Norwegian take on the Cannonball Run-films with a touch of Fast & Furious, or really more like the recent Need For Speed. It succeeds surprisingly enough to be very entertaining, though a couple of major flaws ruins some of the experience.

You'll get amazing driving scenes and a scenic and beautifully shot film, with kind of a cheesy dialog due to a script which could have been better. The film resembles the recent Need for Speed with it's story, but this film has got fresher filming and more humor.

While writing this, five days after the premiere, the film is already a big domestic hit in Norway, outselling the blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy six times at the box office. The film is going to be one of the biggest hits in Norway this year. This due to both good marketing, and a solid cast of Norwegian screen actors as well as a couple of comedians like Otto Jespersen and Atle Antonsen.

In a traumatic race, the car mad Roy, which runs Stallion Parts and is not the best of fathers. He loses due to his daughter meddling with the car in some kind of revenge. Soon he is challenged in a illegal race almost through the length of Norway, from Oslo to the North Cape - way over 2000 kilometers.

A lot of great cars, with American muscle cars in the main roles, with BMW's, Audi R8, and Japanese drifting cars in supporting roles, but there's also small parts for the old Volvo and Granada.

Well, the race is soon on, and the interest you have put into it, stalls a bit on the side story about the 14 year old girl. It's used in character development, but thee main problem is that she's now way up to the rest of the ensemble in the acting skills. We simply don't believe in her motor skills, and not in her dialog.

But the film manages to give a fresh car driving movie with some great filming, great use of camera angles and some beautiful scenery along the way up to the North Cape. The film both serves as good entertainment as well as an ad for Norwegian nature.

The film doesn't take itself too seriously, as the car milieu in Norway doesn't either. This film will be immensely popular in the street race milieu, probably not only in Norway. Horsepower, loud engines, burn outs, drifting along side with testosterone, bickering, rivalry and stupidity, combined with real humans and real characters.

The film is 70% great, and the parts which could have been better is script and acting. The technical parts function, as well as the cars, amazing driving scenes and the humor. You don't have to be interested in cars to watch this, but it'll sure help you in loving it.
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