Toni Erdmann
Composite Score: 83.77
Starring: Sandra Hüller, Peter Simonischek, Michael Wittenborn, Thomas Loibl, Trystan Pütter, Ingrid Bisu, Hadewych Minis, and Lucy Russell
Director: Maren Ade
Writer: Maren Ade
Genres: Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language, and brief drug use
Box Office: $11.78 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Toni Erdmann is a 2016 German dramedy from Maren Ade about a jokester father trying to reconnect with his hardworking adult daughter by inventing a false identity and inserting himself into her working life. The film stars Peter Simonischek and Sandra Hüller as the father-daughter duo of Winfried and Ines Conradi and was nominated for the Oscar for Best International Film. It has been celebrated for its off-the-wall sense of humor and its grounded leading performances and the realism of the characters they portray.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Toni Erdmann is quite simply too long. If you cut thirty to forty minutes of the film’s runtime, it still accomplishes the same goal, with equally strong performances and humor, and without losing its audience in the set-up and delivery of the long “con” at its center. The film’s first hour meanders through establishing scenes, letting you know exactly the types of characters that you are dealing with, before turning to its more ridiculous second act that sets up a truly absurd third act, which is the true highlight of the film, though only about thirty or so minutes in length. It’s a testament to the writing and performances that I don’t feel like I need nearly as much explanation as the film gives to still appreciate what happens in the film’s plot and character development. Both Hüller and Simonischek do excellent jobs showcasing the issues of their characters – similarities and differences – in the first couple of interactions they have that I don’t need quite so many of them as we are given.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Both leading performances are unforgettable in Toni Erdmann. Simonischek’s ability to play what should be a comic relief character as a dramatic protagonist instead is a testament to his commitment to the role. A lesser actor might have tried harder at hamming it up in the many ridiculous roles that Winfried takes on, but he just delivers them as a father still trying to make his daughter laugh in the only way that he ever knew how. Similarly, Hüller brings depth and versatility to the character of Ines, who could easily just have been a frustrated and slightly insecure woman climbing the corporate ladder. Those aspects of the character are there, but her willingness to roll with her father’s idiosyncrasies and the development of her character into what she becomes in the film’s final act elevate the performance and film to an entirely different level.
Toni Erdmann thrives thanks to the performances of its two leads and their unique brand of humor in the midst of the family drama, earning the film its place among the greats. Its excessive length, particularly in the first act, makes it a bit of a slog to get through, but the truth of father-daughter connection at its core and the genuine feeling given by the actors helps it stand the test of its own time. It is currently available to stream with a Starz subscription or to rent on most other streaming services if you’d like to give it a watch.
