Hape Kerkeling (“No Pardon”) has created many an unforgettable fictional character: the red-haired Hannilein, the pop-singing Uschi Blum and the chatty Siegfried Schwäbli. But none of them achieved such cult status as Horst Schlämmer, the chronically ailing and grumpy deputy editor-in-chief of the Grevenbroicher Tagblatt, who even got his own film in 2009: “Horst Schlämmer – I’m a candidate!” Although it was torn apart by critics, the political satire was still well received by audiences three months before the 17th federal election. More than 1.3 million visitors flocked to the cinemas back then. Of course, that alone would be reason enough to move forward with a sequel straight away. But 17 years have passed since then – a damn long time in pop culture, which leads to the question of why the frenzied reporter was let off the leash (only) so late.
Hape Kerkeling has just made his comeback to the cinema after a 16-year break from the big screen. At the beginning of the year he got his “Extrawurst”, which made him an instant hit. So now his second film prank, and after his hors d’oeuvre in the “Extrawurst” ensemble, he wants to stimulate the hunger of his fans in “Horst Schlämmer sucht das Glück” this time alone. At the same time, Kerkeling is also modest: his unkempt trenchcoat idiot doesn’t want to become Chancellor this time, but is “only” looking for the happiness that gives the film its title, like the cartoon man Mr. Rossi once did. Not only is it more down-to-earth, but thanks to director Sven Unterwaldt (“The School of Magical Animals 3”), who is experienced in comedy and children’s films, it also has a lot more routine and speed than the first mess.
After 17 years he returns to the screen – and at least externally it looks as if little has changed with Horst Schlämmer in all these years.
The decisive factor for the plot is the COVID-19 pandemic, which also pushes Horst Schlämmer (Hape Kerkeling) into a deep hole. When the mask requirement is lifted, he also wants to get back into a prosperous life, but quickly realizes that he’s not the only one still suffering: there’s just a bad mood everywhere! The Germans are dissatisfied, nothing works anymore, everything is becoming more expensive. As deputy editor-in-chief, Schlämmer wants to go on reports all over the country – filmed live by his camerawoman Anna (Laura Thomas, who we never see).
His first trip takes him to Munich, where he picks up political phrases from Markus Söder. Then comes Berlin, where he finds himself in the dark realms of a clan. Crime doesn’t pay. But money doesn’t make you happy either, as Schlämmer finally discovers on Sylt when he goes among the rich and famous. So all that remains is religion – and who better to give him information than Cardinal Woelki in Cologne…
Lots of familiar faces
The concept of the first film is also used again in “Horst Schlämmer is looking for happiness”. But instead of trying to get votes in the election campaign, this time it is the mood itself that Kerkeling wants to investigate nationwide. Probably also to hold up a mirror to what has been going wrong in our country since Corona. He cannot give a final answer, because “Horst Schlämmer is looking for happiness” ultimately does not want to be a socially relevant political satire, but rather just a potpourri of quirky scenes and strange situational comedy.
In typical mockumentary style, the camera shakes when Schlämmer meets famous people like CSU leader Markus Söder or (seemingly) normal people on the street. People like to pretend that this is now authentic and spontaneous. But since Meltem Kaptan (“Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush”) is also involved as a train conductor, Jochen Busse (“The Office”) as a theater actor, Norbert Heisterkamp (“7 Dwarves – Men Alone in the Forest”) as a bar owner and many other well-known actors in conceived roles, it can be assumed that not too much was actually left to chance.
Hape Kerkeling also appears as himself in “Horst Schlämmer is looking for happiness” – and begins an exciting dialogue with his fictional character.
You can get involved with that, but to ensure that the tour of the Republic doesn’t run out to waste, Horst Schlämmer keeps having fantasies every now and then, all of which revolve around his favorite actress Gaby Wampel (Tahnee Schaffarczyk). In contrast to the “Schlämmer” film from 2009, this actually offers the necessary variety. Because here Kerkeling can increasingly pursue his favorite activity, which his fans also love him for: he dresses up! Colorful women’s clothes suit the comedian just as well as the clunky clothes of tough guys.
With this, Kerkeling throws a wrench into German television culture as he passes by, because his Gaby is only the star of embarrassing homeland films and cheap telenovelas. A swipe that only the older audience, who grew up with television, probably understands. The climax in “Horst Schlämmer is looking for happiness” is finally reached when the fake Horst meets the real Hape. Hape Kerkeling is giving a book signing for his new book “Happiness knows no limits” in a department store – and Horst Schlämmer is also doing a good job.
Schlämmer meets Kerkeling
Apart from the fact that the star of the film shows a lot of self-irony here and with today’s film trick technology anything is possible, it is only in this moment that you feel how well Kerkeling’s fictional character works in a speech duel with himself. You really see both gentlemen as different characters, like two opposite poles that inevitably repel each other.
And speaking of repulsive: Finally, we’re back to Horst Schlämmer! He is also simply repulsive – not just on the outside, but especially with his invasive comments and crude macho sayings. “That’s no longer possible today,” he is warned right at the beginning. The world is now a different place than it was during his first cinematic adventure 17 years ago. Horst Schlämmer, who first appeared in the RTL show “Hape meets!” in 2005. appeared and once certainly served to expose German philistinism, is perhaps just a relic of its time. So let’s see whether his jokes still work in the cinema.
Conclusion: 17 years after “Horst Schlämmer – I’m running for office!” the dubious guy with bad teeth and a cheap men’s wrist bag comes back into the spotlight. With a more stringent storyline and a quicker delivery of gags, it works much better than in 2009. However, you shouldn’t expect too much. Not every joke catches fire, especially among younger audiences.