It is not really anything new that Thomas Gottschalk is a better host than actor and this film here is evidence too. He wrote it and played one of the main characters almost 30 years ago and after some of his films with Mike Krüger already. I guess Germans must have liked this humor back then, but these 90 minutes have not aged too well. "Zärtliche Chaoten" or "Lovable Zanies" was directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and stars Helmut Fischer and Michael Winslow ""Police Academy" next to Gottschalk. The comedy is very similar compared to the Krüger movies. There is some slapstick, some voice-related humor, some drag and also a romance story as usual. Which of the 3 is the child's daddy? If there is anything one could care about in this film, then this is it. Despite the weak script though, it was somewhat fun to see Pierre Brice, Ottfried Fischer and famous goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff in cameos. But these were not enough to make this a rewarding watch and it is embarrassing that they even made a sequel one year later. Oh well, at least they kept it at 2. I don't recommend "Zärtliche Chaoten". Not a funny film by today's standards.
5 Reviews
Chaos - sweet?
kosmasp19 January 2021
Crazy chaos and probably not that sweet for most. At least that's what I'm thinking. I mean it starts off with one of the best known - well native Americans in German film history called Winnetou. Now of course that was a timely reference back then and some may not really get it nowadays. But it is nice to see the actual actor reprising his famous role. It's not nearly as nice seeing Gottschalk trying to be Old Shatterhand. Actually it is painful, even if it is meant to be funny.
There are many 80s references and depending on your taste and liking that will flow with you or it won't. From including Michael Winslow (of Police Academy fame) to references to shows and things that were quite "hot" back then (like Miami Vice). The actors obviously had a lot of fun doing this and some of it does translate onto the screen ... not all just some. Of course if you don't mind, you probably will like it more than what I've rated it, but those not even familiar with some of the stuff mentioned here, it may be quite the torture watching this ... (and they did a sequel to this? I guess it was easy just throw anything at the wall and see what sticks ... ah well!)
There are many 80s references and depending on your taste and liking that will flow with you or it won't. From including Michael Winslow (of Police Academy fame) to references to shows and things that were quite "hot" back then (like Miami Vice). The actors obviously had a lot of fun doing this and some of it does translate onto the screen ... not all just some. Of course if you don't mind, you probably will like it more than what I've rated it, but those not even familiar with some of the stuff mentioned here, it may be quite the torture watching this ... (and they did a sequel to this? I guess it was easy just throw anything at the wall and see what sticks ... ah well!)
Crazy Movie (spoiler)
mail-danny8 June 2008
Warning: Spoilers
It's kinda trashy yeah, but as already said, it is a good passaway for time! I loved that movie as kid and saw it at least a thousand times!
3 chaotic men, all coming from a different background end up grouping together, after failed jobs. When they help a (not very smart) lady who's car is broken down, the blonde quickly draws appeal to the lads, who now try to competition for the lady's attention. She invites the lads home, as thank for towing her car home. They end up drunk and all sleeping in one bed. All three guys have all fallen for her and now continuously try to win her. The night in one bed does not long stay without consequences, as soon the lady discovers, that she's pregnant, but who of the three is the father? From no on, the three have to hook up together to provide for the baby, which is easier said than done for those chaotic fellas. Quite a bit goes wrong when they try to get jobs with flying pots, breath analyzers, boat races and a Tina Turner wig as a result! After still not knowing, who the father is, the whole story ends up with a big surprise...
3 chaotic men, all coming from a different background end up grouping together, after failed jobs. When they help a (not very smart) lady who's car is broken down, the blonde quickly draws appeal to the lads, who now try to competition for the lady's attention. She invites the lads home, as thank for towing her car home. They end up drunk and all sleeping in one bed. All three guys have all fallen for her and now continuously try to win her. The night in one bed does not long stay without consequences, as soon the lady discovers, that she's pregnant, but who of the three is the father? From no on, the three have to hook up together to provide for the baby, which is easier said than done for those chaotic fellas. Quite a bit goes wrong when they try to get jobs with flying pots, breath analyzers, boat races and a Tina Turner wig as a result! After still not knowing, who the father is, the whole story ends up with a big surprise...
German sense of humor...
Risto_H30 June 2004
I got interested of this cheaply-done trash-spectacle just because of Michael Winslow. I expected to hear he making those crazy noises, just like in Police Academy films. Unfortunately there was just a couple of his scenes to make me laugh. The rest of the cast was unknown for me. The script is so bad and stupid that it seems to be put together very fast while drinking German "bier" in local pub. I think this film is supposed to watch while drinking beer, too... Many scenes were very awkward and obvious or tried too much to be funny. The scene where Winslow is trying to clean a hotel room and ends up just demolishing everything in the room... well - it is NOT funny. Just stupid. Overall, you can easily watch this film through if you have nothing else to do, but you will not watch it again.
German trash comedy at it´s best!!!!
mistajericho13 August 2001
This is a superb german trash comedy staring Thomas Gottschalk who is the host of the most successful european game show "wetten dass".
While watching this one i really laughed my head of. It is actually that bad, that you have to like it. Go see it you won´t be disappointed :-)
While watching this one i really laughed my head of. It is actually that bad, that you have to like it. Go see it you won´t be disappointed :-)
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