I went into this film with pretty low expectations, but it ended up being a lot better than I thought. It's got its good points and its bad points, but it's worth a watch.
Let's get into the details.
About the filmYear - 2019
Country - Russia
Genre - Comedy, Family
Director - Teymuraz Tania
Starring - Egor Beroev, Ksenia Alferova, Teymuraz Tania, and others
Runtime - 1 hour 24 minutes
Plot Summary
A city boy visits his grandfather in the countryside with his dad, and that's when things get interesting. He meets some not-so-friendly local kids and a girl he falls for. His grandfather tells him hilarious war stories that open his eyes to a whole new world, teach him valuable life lessons, and make him a real man.
The film is centered around a boy who's visiting his grandfather for the first time in his life.
Thank You, Grandpa for the Victory film 2019The grandfather, a former frontliner, tries to bond with his grandson by spending time with him, talking about life, and sharing made-up war stories. Thank You, Grandpa for the Victory film 2019In these stories, he's always portrayed as a cool, fearless soldier, ready to charge into battle with a bayonet.My Verdict
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this film. It's a solid, middle-of-the-road movie that stands out from the crowd of recent Russian films and comedies.
Let's start with the strong points.
The cast is strong, at least for the most part.
I've got to give a shoutout to the actors who played the grandparents - Keso' Hagba and Sofya Agumava. They absolutely nailed it, making the characters feel like they're real people. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and their performances are what make this film truly shine.
I was so impressed by their performances that I even looked them up. Both are theater actors, and it's clear they're seasoned pros.
The film's national color is another aspect that really drew me in. The landscapes of Abkhazia and the everyday scenes are perfectly woven into the atmosphere of the movie, and they're visually stunning to boot.
The film has its share of good jokes and funny scenes, and one episode in particular - where they impose corporal punishment on young troublemakers - had me laughing so hard I almost fell off my seat. It was a complete surprise, and I loved it.
But despite the actors, atmosphere, and humor, the clunky script ruins it all.
It's just so cheesy, implausible, over-the-top, and unnatural - the way they resolve all the conflicts in the movie. I'm talking blood-from-the-eyes ridiculous.
So I'll cut to the chase and wrap it up.
The movie's decent, but the title is completely off the mark.
I was super skeptical about this movie to begin with. I mean, who doesn't appreciate a good joke on the battlefield? But a comedy about WWII? Come on.
As it turns out, this movie isn't even about the war. It's just a few front-line stories, made up and told by a grandfather to his grandson, with no relation to the real war whatsoever. It's pure artistic fabrication.
I mean, what else can you tell a 10-year-old about war? Not the truth, that's for sure.
And these stories are all tangential to the main plot.
If you're looking for a serious and honest movie about war, with all its horrors, check out 'Come and See'. But first, think twice about whether you really need to see it.
'Thanks to Grandpa for the Victory' is actually a story about family conflict, generational succession, and true family values. Unfortunately, the script falls short, and that's why I'm docking points. Plus, the ending.
The ending is a bit of a stretch for a family comedy. I was taken aback by it. It just doesn't quite fit with the rest of the movie's atmosphere.
My rating: 3 stars. I'd recommend it.
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