Strictly average movie

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

"Viktor Vogel - Commercial Man" is a German film from 2001, so this had its 15th anniversary last year. It is the first theatrical release by writer and director Lars Kraume and the Italian/German filmmaker was still in his 20s when this came out. Having seen some of his more recent stuff, there is no denying that he clearly stepped up his game since then as his Fritz Bauer film was top-notch for example. This one here not so much. In these 105 minutes, we follow the life of a young man and how he breaks through on the professional level in the world of advertising, but at the same time deteriorates in terms of his likability and drifts away from his friends and the girl he loves. This case of morally questionable behavior through success in business is one you could witness in many many films already and I think most of the time it was better than here. This may also have to do with the fact that I didn't like lead actor Scheer a whole lot, but maybe it wasn't him, but the way the character was written. The supporting cast doesn't add much more either. Chulpan Khamatova's felt a bit odd and the fact that Schrader wasn't as bad as usual doesn't mean she was good.Apart from that, the story was also way too fast. It could have worked as a mini-series perhaps. But not as one film. The way the romance and friendship struggles were rushed in did not feel too great. And honestly the entire character transformation of Viktor did not feel authentic and same can be said about the career path rising quickly and then falling as quickly towards the end. It was all just too much for one film and honestly it also takes considerably away from how seriously you can take this film. In my opinion, it is more on the drama than on the comedy side. There were many scenes that sucked, but lets just mention one, namely when he presents his hunter supermarket idea for the first time and Schrader's character and the others immediately stand up, so we think she must have really hated it, but in fact she loved it. There is a great deal of make-believe in this one sadly. If there is anything this film succeeds at, then it is pointless entertainment, but as a character study or as even a film critical about current society, it is not even close to a success. And with the latter I mean the reference to how everybody in the business world is interchangeable and that it is a cold and ruthless place to exist. It never gets below the surface to that regard and that's a negative deal breakers as succeeding there is one of the major ambitions. To end the review still on a positive note, it can be noted that Götz George once again elevates the material here every time he is on screen and that he gives a bold portrayal that turns a pretty gimmicky character into something truly interesting. You never know with him if he is friend or foe. But George alone is not enough to make up for all the weaknesses here and the overall outcome. I cannot recommend checking it out. Instead I give it a thumbs-down and suggest you watch something else instead.

I'm studying Mass Communication major in Broacasting. For me, Commercial man" is a very wonderful film. Our professor let us watch this film and told us to make a reaction paper. (as usual). Anyway, it just shows reality. Though there are some dull scenes there, Their advertising escapades really made a blast to all the viewers especially to people inclined to advertising. Ther challenging job really makes advertising world can be called as "adventure".. The end of the story was quite boring, because "Bunny to a dove". OK,i don't take it literally, at least they should have a closure about it. Somehow, they left a question mark hanging to every viewers mind. I guess that's quite nice.

I found that this movie was very light-hearted and hysterical. I am in the German Club at my school (being a German speaker) and found this movie to be one of the funniest I have seen yet. Simply wonderful. The story is good, the actors are convincing, and the end is strange yet happy. An overall enjoyable film!

Viktor Vogel is a young man who want to work in an advertising agency. He has fresh ideas for the agency. Eddie Kaminsky is a man who needs a new idea to stay on top. Kaminsky needs Viktor's unique outlook on advertising and Viktor needs Kaminsky's years experience in work force. Together might a good team with the help of Viktor's girlfriend Rosa. I think the movie went slow in some parts in the story, but it has potential plot in the film. The ending was a little strange, nevertheless it worth checking out.