Toni Erdmann

Don't miss this brilliant portrait of a ne'er-do-well father trying to woo back his outwardly successful, inwardly depressed daughter, who has deliberately distanced herself from her origins to pursue a high-pressure career as a consultant. Both father and daughter are thorny individualists who have hurt, and continue to hurt each other; yet they also have a deep tie. The movie unsentimentally portrays both of their moments of breathtaking cruelty towards each other and of their deep connection. Yet more than anything this movie is funny. The humor lies both in the wry wit of the father-daughter exchanges and in the words and actions of the characters themselves, both natural pranksters. The daughter is that rare character in cinema, a fully fleshed-out human being whose inner conflicts are balanced by her intelligence and deep strength of character. Ironically, it is this very strength of character for which she has paid a terrible price, allowing her to build a life for herself, albeit one in which she is desperately unhappy, without allowing herself emotional intimacy of any kind. Luckily for her, her father also is someone with not only strength of character but also reserves of ingenuity surprising given his unprepossessing exterior. This movie takes its time with long, documentary-style takes, but it has unanticipated twists and turns that will leave you open-mouthed. If you like Eric Rohmer movies, you will enjoy this movie as well.

"Toni Erdmann" is another "twist" on the tried and true plotline of an uptight character consumed with his or her career responsibilities, before someone enters (or re-enters) their life to show them what real "living" is all about. The "twist" here is that the life changer is the father who has to change his own persona first, presumably to "coach" his daughter into actually following his lead. Or something like that. It's lightweight, but a fairly amusing way to pass a few hours. I dock this U.S. Sony Blu-ray release a star because it is not on a commercially-pressed disc, but on BD-r.

The trailer makes the movie out to be a comedy, with a father clowning around and playing jokes on his serious daughter. And there are few scenes like that. But most of it is standard German angst. A tragedy, a sad story, about sad lonely people. Not a comedy. Not fun to watch. Sad and depressing. So if that's what you're looking for, here it is!

Honestly, it's impossible to put together the kind of succinct review that's expected in a forum like this._Toni Erdmann_ is simply the most funny, heartbreaking and truly human film I've seen in such a long time.WATCH, please!!

This was my pick on family movie night. They didn't find it very funny. Awkward and uncomfortable at times for them. For me? Enjoyable, but then I enjoyed the Seventh Seal for one of my college classes many years ago, and worked for a German company for a number of years. Slightly absurd comedic realism.

If you like offbeat movies that appear to be going nowhere, then try to shock you with nudity - you'll love this one. Worth paying for if you're Prime? No. I was expecting more humor, much more humor.

Anyone calling this movie hilarious or even a comedy should be committed to the nearest psychiatric institute.

Hardened cinephile here - so good it’s instantly found it’s way on my top films of all time. Austrian/British humor enthusiasts will be like okay this is good...

At first glance this film looks as though it will be hard work as it is three hours long, in German with subtitles. Don't be put off...The content of this film is especially poignant to me as I am a piano teacher within a family who live and work in the serious corporate world. I can identify with the father (the piano teacher) who appears like a buffoon beside his cool, serious daughter. He sees the emptiness and unhappiness his daughter Ines is experiencing in this cold business world, and sets out to reconnect with her. I also feel for Ines the daughter, who sees only the realisation of ambitions and status as a means to fulfilment.Both the main characters (father and daughter) are fabulous in their roles...the father bringing out an unusual alter ego which sidles into his daughter's life, tipping the balance and ultimately releasing her from a prison of her own making.The film is funny, bizarre and moving; it does have long slow scenes which some people might become impatient with, but I enjoyed them because they contained content which was necessary to maintain the integrity of the meaning.It's three hours out of your life...go on, give it a try. Few people will regret watching this.

A lovely film about a go-getting daughter from Aachen whom her father suspects of being slightly at sea in her high-powered corporate world, so he visits her on location in Romania but, finding little to convince himself that she is OK, reappears in disguise to find out the truth and satisfy his concern.Hugely unconventional and entertaining, the film makes truthful use of the locations, relationships, pretences and subterfuges of big business, pricks all the right balloons, and provides joy and tears in equal measure. There are some truly amazing moments..All the performances are excellent.

Great performance by the father who tries to save his daughter from a highly succesful career that is not true to her heart. What can I say but that this movie shows German do have a sense of humor. Treat yourself, buy it and prepare for some good laughs and a well thought out story.Don't watch it with your kids. It's got some very explicit scenes that will make them wince or gag. Don't watch it will your (step)mother either, unless she's got a very good sense of humour. Do watch it though and I challenge you not to laugh out loud.

Excruciating humour, toe curling laughs a plenty and some bittersweet moments. Thoughtful, unpredictable, unique, my favourite film of 2017.

Absolutely excruciatingly hilarious; observational not slapstick. Intelligent.