As I stated in my summary, I can't understand how negative some of the reviews are for this film. While I strongly agree that it is not side-splitting funny, it works very well as a light comedy--a comedy that has some important things to say about family.
The central character in this film is a guy named Jackie Zucker. He is an ex-sports announcer from East Germany and now that the Wall has fallen and he's no longer famous, he's a bit of a weasel. Much of his time is spent gambling, making promises to be a better person and then ignoring his family. He's also very deeply in debt and is about to lose everything. His only chance, he thinks, is to win a huge pool tournament--giving him money to pay off everyone and get his life back on track. But since he's alienated his wife and grown children, it won't be easy to convince them to stake him in the tournament.
Then, quite inconveniently, just before the competition begins, his mother dies. She was apparently a religious Jew as was her other son, while Jackie was a communist party man and atheist (or at best, an agnostic). In her will, she promises to split her inheritance between her two sons IF they give her a proper Jewish funeral AND bury the hatchet. Considering that the two men haven't spoken in forty years and are as different from each other as possible, this is no small order. Plus, a proper Jewish funeral includes sitting 'shiva'---a one week mourning process that coincides with the pool tournament--a week when you are not allowed to do anything!! How Jackie conspires to cheat--by seeming to observe shiva and sneak away to the pool tournament is rather funny. However, the movie, while funny, is far less a comedy and far more a film about alienation and reconciliation. Seeing these two proud but exceptionally flawed men and their families work through all this actually is rather charming and interesting. A very good film--just don't get your heart set on it being a laugh out loud comedy.
PS--A note to parents. There is adult content in the film and it's probably not appropriate for younger audiences--though for most teens it's probably okay if you watch it with them.
The central character in this film is a guy named Jackie Zucker. He is an ex-sports announcer from East Germany and now that the Wall has fallen and he's no longer famous, he's a bit of a weasel. Much of his time is spent gambling, making promises to be a better person and then ignoring his family. He's also very deeply in debt and is about to lose everything. His only chance, he thinks, is to win a huge pool tournament--giving him money to pay off everyone and get his life back on track. But since he's alienated his wife and grown children, it won't be easy to convince them to stake him in the tournament.
Then, quite inconveniently, just before the competition begins, his mother dies. She was apparently a religious Jew as was her other son, while Jackie was a communist party man and atheist (or at best, an agnostic). In her will, she promises to split her inheritance between her two sons IF they give her a proper Jewish funeral AND bury the hatchet. Considering that the two men haven't spoken in forty years and are as different from each other as possible, this is no small order. Plus, a proper Jewish funeral includes sitting 'shiva'---a one week mourning process that coincides with the pool tournament--a week when you are not allowed to do anything!! How Jackie conspires to cheat--by seeming to observe shiva and sneak away to the pool tournament is rather funny. However, the movie, while funny, is far less a comedy and far more a film about alienation and reconciliation. Seeing these two proud but exceptionally flawed men and their families work through all this actually is rather charming and interesting. A very good film--just don't get your heart set on it being a laugh out loud comedy.
PS--A note to parents. There is adult content in the film and it's probably not appropriate for younger audiences--though for most teens it's probably okay if you watch it with them.