The Worst Film Ever

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Purely Joyful Movie!

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

IVAN VASILIEVICH: BACK TO THE FUTURE is a broad time travel comedy from Russia. Those with an experience of Russian cinema from this decade will immediately recognise the constant mugging and slapstick laughs inherent in the story and those looking for something a little wittier and more mature will be disappointed. Still, I liked this one regardless, purely because of the effort that's gone into the production.This is a sequel of sorts to OPERATION 'Y' AND OTHER SHURIK'S ADVENTURES, featuring as it does the likable Aleksandr Demyanenko returning to the role of Shurik. The subject matter is time travel, with two story lines playing out in tandem: the first has a couple of small-timers sent back to 16th century Russia to engage in plenty of chases, while the second, and more interesting plot, has Ivan the Terrible arriving in the present day and finding himself confused by modern technology. It's broad stuff indeed, but a film that works well and is genuinely amusing.

It is just that and almost nothing more: a slapstick for uneducated people; who when watching a movie do not want to or do not like to bother their minds with things like plot, plausibility of events or laws of physics. If in reality nobody acts the way those various characters act and objects do not work the way that is shown on the screen, then it is no problem for those kind of viewers. And it should be no problem for others as well, because it is suppose to be an adventure fantasy comedy (with elements of musical), that even has a kind of a proper disclaimer at the beginning. But the problem is, that this picture is simply not funny. With an exception of one laugh and 2 or 3 smiles, this comedy is just boring, predictable and annoyingThe only thing of value in it are the shots of high quality, in their entirety: lighting, sets, special effects; all those technical and visual aspects of the film. They not only stood the test of time in comparison to many other movies of that era. Moreover, for a film made in the Eastern Bloc, its quality is simply amazing when compared to other movie productions of economically struggling communist countries. (Although some part of this comes probably out from restoration process for the digital release)And having pointed that out, it is no wonder that this movie is what it is- a sweet pill for the masses brutalized by a communist system. And it is not like this is "a stupid piece of cinematic feces", just because "it was made in the 70's in the USSR". Hollywood was making back then and still is making the same kind of unfunny comedic garbage for simpletons, just like the Russians did with this movie, but only without Benny-Hill-like running around (which Ivan Vasilevich is abundant of). Probably there are even more much worst "comedies" made in USA per decade now, than there were made thorough the entire Soviet period of Russian cinematography

After a genre film-style zoom from a man screaming in a black abyss, the title card tells us that the movie is "a non-science-fiction, not quite realistic and not strictly historical film." Ivan Vasi'lievich Changes Profession (1962) starts off as an absurdist comedy as the mad scientist Shurak watches his television and accidentally sucks up his cat into his vacuum cleaner (Shurak using two staple domestic products of the Brezhnev years). The film becomes a science-fiction adventure as Shurak's newly operational time machine unwittingly sends Ivan the Terrible into 1970s Moscow, forcing the old Russian czar to adjust to the struggles of modern life. And finally, Ivan Vasi'lievich transforms into a musical as Shurak's apartment superintendent Ivan Vasi'lievich and Miloslavksy perform a dance in the sixteenth century echoing Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible, Part II (1958), but this film would have never survived the harsh censorship of Late Stalinism. The Soviet citizen during the Brezhnev years saw an increase in the standard of living prompting a greater middle class and permanently instilling a lifestyle of consumerism. While the popularity of television was enormous, movie attendance in the Soviet Union was also massive. GOSKINO, under the leadership of Filipp Ermash, gave entertainment value and the sensibilities of the audience highest priority during film production. Genre films, such as the melodrama, crime, sci-fi, romance or adventure film, were fundamental to the years of stagnation. The silly, surreal, sci-fi-adventure-comedy precedes Back to the Future (1985) and Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989) by over a decade criticizing the modern day world as the suspicion Ivan the Terrible is told, "you'd be poisoned with can food then vodka."

melinda2001, this film does not Benny Hill, you fool! Benny Hill - is silly faces, lust and antics. Ivan Vasilievich - this is a profound satire. Russian do not like the silly faces, lust and antics Benny Hill. Russian need intelligent comedy, satire, allegory different. In this film, the humor in words, as they say in the characters, as they say, and items that you probably did not understand without knowing Russian. And the Russian will always watch this movie. Today in Russia do not remove these movies - it means "Ivan" and other Soviet satirical comedy will be popular. Until new satirical masterpiece comedy . Unfortunately today all over the world to take off stupid, and Russia in this way. New Russians comedy - idiotia as the worst in American comedies. :(