Buddy - Blu-ray

Film: Bully is back! Four years after Wickie and the Strong Men, Michael Bully Herbig has finally returned to the director's chair to direct a big screen comedy. Unlike his previous films, however, this one is not based on a well-known template, i.e. neither a sketch from his Bullyparade nor an animated series. Rather, he ventures into a completely original material, which comes across not only a little more mature, but also much more romantic, than Der Schuh des Manitu and Co.

In the center of Buddy is the millionaire heir Eddie (Alexander Fehling), who is convinced that he leads the perfect life. He can just throw money around, celebrate one party after another and get every woman he wants in bed. The fact that he is in the process of maneuvering his late father's company into bankruptcy and driving his image completely up the wall seems to bother him little. But help is at hand, because one day his guardian angel Buddy (Michael Bully Herbig) appears to the arrogant party boy, who wants to help him finally get his life under control. In return, Buddy wants to set him up with single nurse Lisa (Mina Tander). But how can you play Cupid if you're only mistaken for a hallucination? And so Buddy must first see to it that Eddie believes that guardian angels like him really do exist...

Buddy starts off very fast-paced, with the humor, especially in the first third, focusing primarily on very simply delivered slapstick. There is no subtlety here at any moment. Music, facial expressions and gestures in this part of the film are so anxious to make the audience laugh that rather the opposite is achieved. The comedy didn't even need the exaggerated silliness. Because when the gags aren't served with a sledgehammer, the movie works really well and is even the best thing Bully has delivered so far. Even if the story is not exactly filled with fresh ideas and unpredictable surprises, the production can convince with a lot of charm, good timing and a very well harmonizing cast.

While especially Alexander Fehling (Goethe!, Who if not us) proves that he can not only convince in dramatic films, but also shows a great talent for comedic material. And even in the somewhat quieter and romantic moments of the comedy, the actor leaves a really positive impression. Bully himself plays a rather subordinate supporting role alongside Fehling, but his likeable charisma, which makes the comedian, actor and filmmaker so popular with his fans, is strong enough for the whole film to benefit from. Mina Tander finally proves to be a very charming object of desire after Maria, ihm schmeckt`s nicht, whereby she also gets the chance to show her humorous skills here and there.

Apart from some less successful gags and little hangs, Buddy actually has only one problem: it differs too much from its predecessors. Even if this is actually very positive, as Michael Bully Herbig as a filmmaker reveals a clear development, so this may still have been the reason for the rather weak performance at the box office. After all, fans expect a certain kind of humour from Bully after The Shoe of Manitou or (T)Spaceship Surprise, but they only get it to a limited extent here. So if you approach Buddy with the wrong expectations, you might be disappointed. But if you're expecting a simply likeable comedy with some slapstick, a few nice guest appearances, good-humored actors, a very good visual realization and with a lot of heart, you'll be really well served here. After the bumpy start a really nice comedy, which has earned the conclusion worth seeing absolutely!

Picture + Sound: Michael Bully Herbig has always understood it well to make his films look big. And Buddy is no different. The camerawork and the editing are on an international level, which is also coherently shown off in the home cinema thanks to the good technical realisation of the Blu-ray.<x><N</x>Extras: Even if Bully has given his fans more bonus material on previous home cinema releases, the yield on the Blu-ray is still quite decent. In addition to the amusing outtakes (approx. 3:06 min.), a greeting from Bully from the set (1:55 min.) as well as the teaser and trailer for the film - all of which is also included on the DVD - the Blu-ray exclusively also has an extensive and really good making of (approx. 40:52 min.) to offer. Good!

Conclusion: With Buddy, Michael Bully Herbig shows a clear progression as a director. After a somewhat bumpy beginning with too much silliness, the whole thing becomes a really nice romantic comedy that has a lot of heart to offer in addition to many good laughs. The Blu-ray is technically well realized, the bonus material is clear, but worth seeing. Overall, this is all enough for a very clear: Recommended!

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp