TrueJoshNight Truly Dreadful Film

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

pyrocitor Allan Karlsson would not be a fan of simile, metaphor, or flowery comparisons of any sort; he's much more of a "things are how they are, que sera sera" kind of guy. So he might issue one of his patented crinkly grimaces to hear his film, The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (a title as cutely apt, lumbering, but functional as the film itself), allegorized as 'Forrest Gump through the eyes of a Swedish Kurt Vonnegut'. Still, it's impossible to imagine a more conducive description for the film. It's cute, clever, and laced with a very welcome sense of dark Swedish humour, but a bit too light and gentle to dig into the weightier, more Vonnegutian themes of other aging road trip contemporaries. Does this impact our enjoyment of the film? Not at all. It is what it is, and what it is is worthwhile and hugely watchable.The plot is rather episodic, with the series of accidentally poignant flashbacks integrated amusingly but playing out more clumsily here than in book form. Ultimately, it's hard to shake the feeling that we might be better off forgoing Karlsson's colourful past altogether. His present-day caper, an almost Coen brothers-y road trip involving a mysterious bag of mob cash, an entourage of quirky companions, and an ever mounting, morbidly hilarious body count, is so much more watchable than the amusing but more contrived Gumpiness of his reminiscences. Still, Karlsson's amiable, nonchalant acceptance of all things that pass - political regimes, life, loss, Gulags, drinking, doppelgängers, xenophobic vasectomies, unexpected elephants, and lots and lots of explosions - is infectious, and perfectly portrayed with crusty warmth by (48 year old!) star Robert Gustafsson, aided by some pretty impressive makeup. He's an engaging enough narrator that all events, revolutionary (literally) and inconsequential, add flavour to his characterization and film alike.As with all 100 year-old things there are growing pains. The film fights somewhat distractingly hard to play as a comedy sometimes, none the least through its carnivalesque, Nino Rota ripoff musical score, and the ending's cloying schmaltziness won't be to all tastes (though it's hard to find fault with any film that brings us to a Balinese beach vacation). Nonetheless, just as the film urges for nonjudgmental acceptance and enjoyment of everything that drifts on by, it dictates its own ideal viewing state. And as a night's hearty entertainment, untaxing but seasoned with just enough discerning weirdness, The 100 Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared could prove the perfect fit. So it goes.-7/10

Jackson Booth-Millard This is probably one of the longest film titles I know, but it clearly tells you what to expect, I mainly took notice of this Swedish when it was nominated at the Academy Awards, I hoped for something interesting. Basically Allan Karlsson (Robert Gustafsson) has lived a long and colourful life, he finds himself stuck in a nursing home, seemingly his last stop, but Allan is still in good health, and he is not keen to celebrate his 100th birthday. So Allan decides to climb out of the window and disappear, for most people this would be the adventure of a lifetime, but this unexpected journey is not his first, he has already experienced so much in his lifetime. Allan finds himself getting into a strange situation where he has unintentionally stolen a traveller's luggage bag, it is full of thousands, if not millions, in drug money, along with some people he meets on his journey, with no determined final destination, he continues travelling to find something to do with this newfound fortune, with criminals hot on his trail. The film has many flashbacks seeing Allan as a child, where he gained a love for blowing things up, and we see him grow up into a man who continues this hobby, using it as a career, and getting in many interesting situations and meeting many interesting characters, as well historical figures along the way. Also starring Iwar Wiklander as Julius Jonsson, David Wiberg as Benny, Mia Skäringer as Gunilla, Jens Hultén as The Boss, Alan Ford as Pim, Ralph Carlsson as Chief Inspector Aronsson, Bianca Cruzeiro as Caracas, Sven Lönn as Bucket, David Shackleton as Herbert Einstein (Albert's brother); Tumba, Sonja and Thnog Suk as Sonja the Elephant, Pernilla Göst as Allan's Mother, Ola Björkman as Allan's Father, Kerry Shale as Harry S. Truman, Donald Högberg as Professor Lundborg, Algirdas Paulavicius as Josef Stalin, Sigitas Rackys as Gorbachev and Keith Chanter as Ronald Reagan. Gustafsson is likable as the very old man who goes through a number of adventures until reaching his tenth decade and proving that you're never too old to have another big adventure, I can see the comparison to Forrest Gump, where the leading character by chance enters many historical events and comes across significant people along the way, but it is not as cleverly done, this does have some nice and atmospheric moments, you do go along slightly with the story both in flashbacks and present day, and you cannot deny the makeup and hair to create ageing is fantastic, but it is not quite funny or enjoyable as other similar films, a fair and reasonable comedy drama. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Okay!

fyusang One day i went to the bookstore and saw a cartoon covered book. It was green and very simple. Usually i don't get easily attracted, but it had a very long title. "The 100 year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared" by Jonas Jonasson. I thought to myself, should i buy it or just leave it? Long story short, i finished the book with many laughter and many new inspirations. it was funny, dramatic, and deep. Jonas Jonasson explained in a simple way how corrupted our world is. It's so ironic it makes you laugh. I share the book to many of my friends. Suddenly somebody said there was a movie based about the book. I was very exited, (if you have red the book, my country, Indonesia, was quoted many times and the stupidity of how our government is was also written) so i searched the movie. It was a bit difficult to get movies that weren't published by our media. The movie store wasn't going to sell any movie that seems had no prospect in it (pop-minded-people). Finally after a long journey i got the movie and watched. Watched. And watched. Yes, the cast are there. The director did a good job casting the actors, especially Allan Karlson, Herbert Einstein, Julius, and the Never Again Squad. But, there was a minute that i got lost when Allan succeed the Manhattan Project and suddenly arrived in Sweden. Is it just me, or is this new plot a bit disappointing? Actually my favorite quote of the book was "There are only two things I can do better than most people. One of them is to make vodka from goats' milk, and the other is to put together an atom bomb." There was a moment in the book where Allan traveled through the Himalaya's. It was there he found his other "hobby" and after his "enlightenment" he went to Tehran and met a very fanatic priest. Maybe because of the budgeting and other technical matters this project can't afford it. But in my opinion this was a important moment for the development of the characters and the story. There were many changes from the book to the movie. I tried to be objective and watch it in another perspective, but still, how did Allan survive Gulag, how did he suddenly had a Chinese traditional clothes when he was in France (the book describes that he was the translator and the best friend of an Indonesian ambassador), and why did the movie script writer add more antagonist (Pim - Alan Ford). The book was dark. It had sarcasm everywhere, but i can't feel it in the movie. So yes, it was entertaining, but not what i hoped for.

Robert W. I remember reading the back of the book this was based on awhile ago and thinking how great this sounded. I never got around to reading it and when I spied this movie based on it, I was overjoyed!! I didn't even know this has been made. The film does not disappoint. It is a fun, fast paced, ridiculous adventure not unlike a more subtle Forrest Gump and with a little less serious tone. There are some life lessons here to be learnt but its not specifically trying to teach us anything. It is just trying to have a good time so sit back and relax and laugh at the often disturbing dark humour and hilarious comedy of errs. This has all the earmarks and feel of a classic satire and the cast is so fantastic. I think with a slightly higher budget it could have been even better but they do a great job with what they're given. If you're not a fan of foreign films, don't balk at this because much of it is in English and the dialogue and script is brilliant. There are some incredibly memorable moments and lines and a crazy cast of characters that won't seen be forgotten. I will forever remember Allan Karlsson saying "if you want to kill me, you better hurry, I'm 100 years old." Robert Gustafsson is absolute perfect. First of all the make up job they do on him as the 100 year old is amazing and he perfectly manages to play Allan across many, many decades and is believable. Its nice not to have different actors playing the same role to make youth believable. Allan is simple minded in some ways and just has this distinctive "I don't care/roll with the punches attitude" that doesn't change and makes him incredibly hilarious and fun. Iwar Wiklander is fantastic as Allan's partner in crime so to speak. His character is a little underdeveloped but they have great chemistry and he has some truly terrific moments. David Wiberg is also really great as the metaphorically lost guy looking for the meaning of life. Wiberg's character is the perfect balance to the other characters. Mia Skäringer plays the reluctant female drawn into the men's crazy adventure and falls for Wiberg. Being one of the only females in the film she holds her own and has some great moments of her own. Jens Hultén is one of my favourite characters especially following his amnesia and he plays a great part too. Alan Ford adds a needed part of the villain to the story and while he has very little screen time or development, he does it well.This really is the definition of ensemble cast. Foreign films are often this way but everyone works together to make you laugh, smile, be shocked and just go along for the ride. Elephant shot in the butt? Stolen mobster money? A detective chasing them all across country? Budding romance? A 100 Year old man that just wants to be left alone? This is just simply fun. You can turn this on, sit back and have a great time. This honestly should do wonders for director Felix Herngren's career because he handles the film well, tells an incredible story and holds it all together flawlessly. If you're looking for something different but fun and entertaining you found it here!! Check this one out!! 8/10