"Vorstadtkrokodile 3" is the last one from the trilogy that was loosely based on Max Von Der Grün's novel and the 1977 film. Actually, only the first film from 2009 was really based on the original movie. Still, this third entry here was the commercially most successful film, even if it did not really have anything to do with the original story anymore. One of the kids has a heavy accident and needs a liver transplant from his brother, who is in jail sadly. So, you could say that it is about physical weakness once again if you are generous as this is a theme that keeps showing up in this franchise.
The wheelchair kid was missing for almost the entire movie. I did like the final scene, however. At this point it was very clear that there would be no fourth movie anymore as the kids had simply grown up at this point. And, at one point, one of them makes a quote about how they are possibly too old for this whole gang adventure thing. There is a major plot-hole here though. In the 2009 movie we hear that the brother drinks lots of booze, so he should have been denied the possibility of being a donor just like the father is. Anyway, this film runs for much shorter than the first two and only lasts for 80 minutes and that is already with the closing credits. Christian Ditter, who directed movies 1 and 2 is gone, so Wolfgang Groos takes over. Also almost all the known grown up actors do not reappear here, with the exception of Nora Tschirner who is in all 3 films, just like the kids. However, they included some famous new faces again: Horst Lichter, Michael Kessler, Jochen Nickel and two actors who you may have seen on the long running critically acclaimed television series "Stromberg" and "Mein Leben & Ich". Hans Martin Stier is not too known, but he stole pretty much all the scenes he was in here. Also Jacob Matschenz and Axel Stein return from part 1.
I have to say, quality-wise, this movie is pretty much on par with the other two films. They do not suck entirely, but I am not a fan of either. Here and there, there is a good scene (like the present scene early on in this one), but overall I hoped for more. Reimann is again the lead actor and I still believe, the other kids actors were at least as good as he was. Don't see much talent in him. Also, I did not like the rap version of the (good) main theme at all. They used the catchy "Amada Mia, Amore Mio" tune here finally from the original film, so I forgive them for that. I cannot forgive them for the whole prison break sequences. They were chaotic and really added anything to the story. I liked, however, that they did not succeed, so there was a major story development change around minute 60. (Also why did the kids have to try to get them out and the hospital would not contact the prison simply?) Another approach was needed and they found it with the help of Tschirner's character. I believe you should watch the first and then decided if you want to go on. Quality's not getting worse, but as I said before, that's more because it is a consistently weak trilogy.
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