Buddy

True Love's Course
True love's course never did run smooth, particularly for the nutty Norwegians in this hilarious comedy. In his first directorial debut, Morten Tyldum does an excellent job keeping the pace popping. The hand-held camera angles of a reality-based television give way to the steady camera shots of three roommates who are bumbling their way through life & love. Nicolai Cleve Broch who also worked with Aksel Hennie (Geir) in his movie "Uno," is our romantic protagonist. With his full-bodied lips giving him G.Q. good looks, he's an ideal romantic lead whose quizzical smiles are not too heavy, but just deep enough to keep our interest. Broch plays Pals Kristoffer who breaks up with his girlfriend Elizabeth, played by Janne Formoe in her first film. Geir is the balding blonde roommate whose daredevil stunts like jumping from a third-story window mask some regret as the father of a child from his teenage years. Anders Baasmo Christiansen plays the heavyset Stig Inge who is a web...
Reality TV takes over the world!!!
--And this movie proves it, it's all over the world!

Kristoffer makes his living putting up billboards with his friend, Geir and spends the rest of his time hanging out with his girlfriend, Elisabeth. He also films his friends doing silly or crazy things. When Elisabeth feels brave enough to give Kristoffer her spare keys, he fearfully breaks up with her saying that things are going too fast. No matter, she has found another---quick.

So, K hangs out with Geir and his new landlord Stig Inge, who has a very real phobia of not wanting to leave the city. He gets an anxiety attack every time he enters the Metro station and remembers that he "forgot to turn off the stove.." etc.

Henriette comes on the scene and moves in with the boys for a few weeks and soothes Kristoffers broken heart, even though she has a boyfriend that she will go on a long sailing trip with in a matter of days. Tangled webs? Especially when Elisabeth comes back!

Even though...
Nicolai Cleve Broch and Pia Tjelta are the best parts of this sweet Norwegian comedy
Amazon recommended this Norwegian movie to me after my viewing of Elling. 'Elling' was superb in every way - a constant delight. While 'Buddy' is also good, it's not the transcendent experience of 'Elling.' Both films, however, are emblematic of the quality product produced by this small country. Its population of slightly less than five million puts it No. 116 in world rank. But that's hardly their standing in the league tables of cinematic quality. While no Denmark or Israel (my personal winners of the Quality:Size Index), Norway's culture clearly demands and produces quality product.

'Buddy' centers on Kristoffer, Geir and Stig Inge, three under-employed 20-ish guys living together in downtown Oslo. Kristoffer and Geir specialize in 'Jackass'-like stunts, which Kristoffer secretly films and adroitly narrates for their own viewing. While attempting a stunt at what turns out to be at television...
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