Kroymann, Sukowa and Lauterbach already starred in the hit comedy that started in 2020 Grandchildren for beginners quite entertaining seniors who looked after minors to escape boredom. The fact that they were other people’s children, rather than their own grandchildren and granddaughters, made the gap between the two generations all the more amusing. In the sequel film, director Wolfgang Groos and his screenwriter Robert Löhr go one step further and even let the trio loose on a crowd of pubescents. And they really have hair on their teeth! Karin, Philippa and Gerhard are confronted with expressions and views that could send more delicate minds fleeing, but the three of them don’t give up that easily.
With her relaxed attitudes from the hippie era, Philippa can surprise or even offend today’s young generation. Misunderstandings are inevitable when she wants to encourage Noah (Linus von Emhofen), who is interested in science, not to do additional school work but to enjoy his freedom. Philippa, who is played with a lot of enthusiasm and joy by Barbara Sukowa, quickly blossoms in her new role and provides unusual fun in the school shop.
Unfortunately, the film quickly runs out of ideas about what one could do with older people. A series of cliched scenarios and clumsy jokes permanently reduce the viewing pleasure. Heiner Lauterbach is a comedic safe bet in the role of the humorless, pedantic, educated citizen Gerhard, and his ongoing conflict with the Turkish newspaper delivery man Aydin (Ercan Durmaz) also has its charms, as does Karin’s plan to couple the two up. But how plausible is it to let the doctor Gerhard, the host of a tired senior citizen’s party, distribute medication to create a mood? Someone just wanted tea instead of red wine, and now the guests are supposed to pop pills without hesitation that could not only give them a high but also a circulatory collapse?
Karin’s behavior in her sudden marital crisis is also implausible. Back in New Zealand a little earlier than planned, she discovers that her husband Harald (Günther Maria Halmer) is being looked after quite well by their mutual acquaintance Sigrid (Imogen Kogge), who even has a house key. Karin assumes that Harald is having an affair and changes the locks: He should see where he is staying. She initially moves in with Gerhard and at times dedicates herself to the school shop, matchmaking and partying quite unencumbered.
It’s irritating how easily she emotionally puts the long-term marriage relationship on hold. A comedy that wants to tell the story of how the changing spirit of the times is spicing up and roughening up the dialogue between the generations of grandparents and grandchildren would actually have to make sure that its characters are drawn from real life.
And why does a person have to die in this comedy just because they are retired? According to the information, Karin and Philippa are still in their sixties. They would have an average life expectancy of 86 years. Gerhard once said that he expects at least 20 more good years for himself, but filmmakers apparently think that something is missing if a story about seniors doesn’t also include death. There were only two left, but the film doesn’t end. Ultimately, the opportunity to produce all sorts of slapstick with urns and burials, because something like that is said to have made the audience laugh in previous films, has to be taken advantage of.
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