Přes prsty

Ein Film zum Ausspannen, in der derzeitigen Situation fast ideal. Angesichts dessen, dass das Verhältnis von Peinlichkeit und Witz genau ausgewogen ist, sind es für mich bessere sechzig Prozent. Langmajer sieht zwar überflüssig alt aus, doch er spielt wie immer absolut toll, und das weibliche Duo wurde in geeigneter Weise ausgewählt. Es gibt nicht viele Sportkomödien, und diese konnte man wirklich anschauen. Der Gesamteindruck ist also positiv. (16.03.2020)

In Seriendezine of the screenwriter Petr Kolečka, Jan Prušinovský often appears as a creative authority revising his scripts and giving them a tighter and more credible form, while in Kolečka's film work, this authority noticeably lacks and the result is often unfunny, sexist, and stupid nonsense (see Bajkeři or Padesátka). The comedy Přes prsty is no exception, and Kolečka directed it himself (which was not originally planned, it was an emergency solution) and it is not to the benefit of the matter. The plot of the film is appalling and chauvinistic, and besides that, the film has significant problems with narrative pace, unconvincing dialogues, wooden and clumsy execution of many scenes, as well as a forced or at best awkward handling of humor. Women here play the role of irrationally thinking physical objects intended primarily for visual and sexual pleasure, including the two main heroines, who are destined to end up in bed with a man whom they considered old and repulsive just a few hours ago (but then smiled at his remarks about their behinds). Men behave like scoundrels, but they are not punished or reprimanded for it, and women still submit to them without hesitation and forgive every wrongdoing immediately. Langmajer's character is depicted as an experienced seducer who eventually conquers every woman without much effort, but at the same time, he is also a stoned manipulative slacker who displays his nature in public without being asked and believes that he sleeps with women for their own good. When a woman then objects, it is considered hysteria and an exaggerated reaction (see the bizarre scene where the angry heroine is offered a glass of juice and instead of melodramatically knocking it off the table, she slaps it with her palm as she is a volleyball player, cutting her tendons). It is far from pleasant summer relaxation entertainment. (27.08.2019)

Ich habe überhaupt nichts erwartet, und ich habe etwas anderes bekommen als eine klassische tschechische Liebeskomödie (die an sich ein Anti-Genre ist). Dieses Etwas gibt glücklicherweise nichts vor, Beachvolleyball ist ein Blick auf Mädchen in Bikinis, auch Hintern (Damen und Herren) oder üppige Brüste gibt es, umgangssprachliches Tschechisch ist in seiner ganzen Pracht zu hören, keine stilisierten Dialoge aus dem Wörterbuch des geschriebenen Tschechisch aus dem letzten Jahrhundert. Die Besetzung ist ein typisch Kolečko, die Koproduktion mit der Slowakei hat ein paar weniger bekannte Gesichter wie Marián Miezga hinzugefügt, Ostrava wiederum hat Štěpán Kozub nicht vergessen. Dafür, dass es in einem sportlichen Rahmen in Beziehungsplattitüden badet, ist das Ergebnis zumindest weniger schädlich als Vulgaritäten wie Theory of Tiger oder Patrimony, die das Zielpublikum mit Unsinn und Stereotypen unwirklicher Dimensionen überhäufen. (07.11.2020)

Petr Kolečko is perfect at taking the superficial, chauvinistic, and sexist elements of contemporary society and pasting them into entertaining scenarios. Yet they must not be filmed by superficial directors, such as himself. The plot about the (non)merger of the beach volleyball duo is built so intricately and complexly that even Nolan looks on enviously. I was really embarrassed to be watching this at all because it's exactly one step ahead of entering the soft-porn genre, with the lure always being a woman's ass in a swimsuit that's supposed to end up in Jiří Langmajer’s bed, whose penis is the hard MacGuffin of Czech cinema. It's the kind of folksy fun that fills movie theaters, but at its core, it's exactly the kind of cheap schlock that has that polished glitz that can be seen through quickly, and you don't even have to have a gender studies degree to see it. I would have found this awkward at the age of 20 at the latest. Let alone now, when I'm three years younger than Kolečko. PS: That brilliant final speech by Vojtěch Dyk about burning wood is miles behind the rest of the film, as is the whole character of Hynek, who is one big running joke. (02.11.2020)

For every ten terrible Czech comedies, there is a good one, and that is without a doubt Above Fingers. The story is nothing interesting, but the unusual setting of volleyball and especially the actors, with Jiří Langmajer playing his typical role of a womanizer in a love triangle between Petra Hřebíčková and Denisa Nesvačilová, who are perhaps the hottest girls on the Czech comedy scene. It's nice to watch, especially when the girls are only wearing bikinis, and there are plenty of funny lines as well. 7/10. (23.01.2020)