MAENNERHEZEN ... und die ganz ganz große Liebe / MEN IN THE CITY 2

Germany, 2011, 105 minutes, Colour.
Christian Ulmen, Wotan Wilke Möhring, Til Schweiger, Maxim Mehmet, Florian David Fitz.
Directed by Simon Verhoeven.

Men in the City was a very popular film in Germany, telling a story of five younger middle aged man, a personal crises, their relationships, decisions in their workplaces. It is all done with a light touch.

The film features some prominent German actors led by Til Schwager and Florian David Fitz.

The sequel can be described in the same way. Audiences wanted a sequel because they found the first film engaging and the characters and their lives interesting. It takes up at the very moment the original ended and includes flashbacks to remind audiences of some plot details.

It is mainly the men who are back again, all prominent, but more time and attention is given to Justus Donhanyi as the eccentric pop singer, Bruce. Donhanyi won awards for his performance in the first film. Some of the women from the first film reappear with an emphasis on commitment, pregnancy and birth.

The two films prove that German comedies can have a light touch.

1. The popularity of the original film? The demand for a sequel? A successful and entertaining sequel? taking up where the first film left off? Repeating some of the scenes? Audiences familiar with the characters, interested in their stories, liking them?

2. Berlin, the locations, apartments, offices, restaurants? The world of television? The world of popular music? The contrast with the countryside? Musical score and songs?

3. Philip: prospering, Nina pregnant, going to the classes, his imagining his daughter in the future and the range of suitors and his hostile reactions? The reaction of those in class, the leader? Her song, Philip and Nina laughing, walking out? His talking with Niklas? Niklas and his words? The contacts with Bruce? Nina and her web site design? Gunther’s visits? Helping out? Nina, her work, the design, her hopes, discussions about work and looking after the family? Nina and giving birth, Philip leaving the fire, the destruction of the diner? Issues of insurance? His building the new shop? Bruce and his success, getting some money?

4. Niklas: together with his girlfriend, memories of the past and the clash, going to therapy, her announcing the break, the affair with the therapist? Niklas miserable, discussions with Philip? Online dating, the meeting with Anke, her boisterous reaction, the dance, his rejecting her, the man trying to sell the roses and his angry reaction, destroying the flowers? His pursuit of Maria, seeing her on the soap opera, the billboards? The contact by e-mail, the fan, the group, the meeting, the tattoo, the demonstration, their arrest? Getting out, going back for his mobile phone? The hostile police? The group sending the false message? His being at rock bottom, and rejected by Maria? Working with Bruce? Getting the work for Nina? Meeting Maria, the meal, Anke, the man with the roses? His letter of explanation and the happy ending?

5. Gunther, more kempt, the scene with the crocodile, his love for Suzanne, for Tommi, poor kicking off the soccer ball, going to practice, injured? His seeking advice from Hansi, looking at the Internet for sexual techniques, the DVD evening, biting Suzanne’s ear, hospital, his plea? The grenade for Tommi? Susan’s reaction? Being miserable, seeing Suzanne and Mauricio, rescuing her, the judo? His being an alternate father for Tommi?

6. Roland, in jail, the visits, Suzanne and her drawing for Tommi, the possibility of parole, his advocate, the role play and his being provoked about his son, his angry outburst, attacking the other prisoner? No parole? The visit the end, reconciliation with Suzanne, Tommi and Gunther?

7. Hansi: his real name, giving up Jerome? Visiting his love of the past, her rejection of him? Going to be with his parents, going back to his old room, the dream of a princess, seeing Helena riding? Going for the lessons, on the pony, the meetings with Helena, explaining her fiancé? Hard work and chopping the wood? His mother overhearing his advice for Gunther and concluding that he was gay? Bruce and his moving in, confirming her suspicions, the parents trying to be liberal-minded? His disappointments, watching the television at the end, Maurizio, his arrest, Helena taking refuge with him? His support of Bruce despite everything? Maurizio stealing his song, the song on the mail post?

8. Bruce, his success in the first film, a bigger part this time? His relying on Jerome, writing the love song for him? Sending it, and the later success in the copyright case? His trying to be modern, discussions with the producer, the love song, then the rap song? Niklas explaining the Internet? His not understanding it, introduced, online shopping, the growing addiction? His inhaler? Drinking? On the television, his fiasco? Taking refuge with Hansi? The truth about the song? The money and his repaying everyone?

9. Helena, the riding school, her relationship with Maurizio, the attentions of Hansi? The television, the truth about Maurizio, Going to be with Hansi?

10. Maurizio, the new talent, his egoism, performance, relationship with Helena, deceiving her, encountering Suzanne, the date, Gunther and his judo? His arrest?

11. The producer, listening to Bruce’s songs, ridiculing him, getting rid of him? Taking on Maurizio and the failure?

12. Suzanne, her care for Tommi, her work, meeting Gunther, not wanting to go to the zoo, wanting to have a child, Gunther and his awkwardness, biting her ear, the failure of the DVD evenings? The visits to Roland? With Maurizio? His attack, Gunther rescuing her? Tommi, the need for a father, with Gunther, the soccer, the failure? The grenade? The final reconciliation and the visits to prison?

13. Hansi’s parents, welcoming their son, room for him, suspicions, welcoming Bruce? Welcoming Helena?

14. Comic touches, serious touches, a popular entertainment?