The cast of this motion picture makes it a decent watch for younger and older audiences. We have 3 actors around 60 and a trio of actors around 30. If you were very precise, you could probably say that the older ones are the real core of the film due to the beginning, but it is almost equal. I was not really familiar with Michael Wittenborn, probably because he has been mostly in small screen films and series, but he shines here, possibly my favorite performance and he does not have to hide behind the possibly bigger names of Lauterbach and Schneeberger, who I know from her work with the late Dieter Pfaff. What got me most into this film is director Ralf Westhoff though. His earlier work "Shoppen" is possibly my favorite German comedy of all time and even if I cannot say "Wir sind die Neuen" came close to that, it was still an entertaining 1.5 hours.
The trio of old people move in in the apartment above the younger ones and it's basically a switch of roles from the start. The older ones party, drink and hear loud music, while the younger ones just want their peace in order to study for university. The younger ones tell the older ones when to clean the stairwell. The older ones refuse. The younger ones struggle physically with their backs, the older ones go jogging and play Frisbee. The younger ones have pictures on their shoe cabinet which pair belongs where. That says it all. Of course, in the end, the two groups manage to solve their struggles as the older ones help the younger ones with their studies, health and relationships. Not too surprising, is it? Finally each of the elderly mentored a younger character. My favorite pair were Eisinger and Wittenborn. Personally I thought, the comedy was the best part of this film. Every time it got more serious (with the exception of the beginning when Schneeberger's character asks other to move in with her), I would not say it falls apart, but it is just not as good. The struggles between Wittenborn's and Lauterbach's characters or especially the illness of Lauterbach's character thrown in near the end did nothing for me. The ending did not really blow me away either. And another minor criticism, one scene I really did not like was when they destroyed all those sheets of paper, the lifetime work of Wittenborn's character. I can't believe that did not bother him and he just joined in fully after short hesitation.
But these minor issues I had with the film should not take away from anything earlier. I certainly recommend this movie to those who are interested in German cinema and, as I described earlier, this is truly a movie for all generations, one you could for example watch with your grandparents if you are in the mood for something lighter.
The trio of old people move in in the apartment above the younger ones and it's basically a switch of roles from the start. The older ones party, drink and hear loud music, while the younger ones just want their peace in order to study for university. The younger ones tell the older ones when to clean the stairwell. The older ones refuse. The younger ones struggle physically with their backs, the older ones go jogging and play Frisbee. The younger ones have pictures on their shoe cabinet which pair belongs where. That says it all. Of course, in the end, the two groups manage to solve their struggles as the older ones help the younger ones with their studies, health and relationships. Not too surprising, is it? Finally each of the elderly mentored a younger character. My favorite pair were Eisinger and Wittenborn. Personally I thought, the comedy was the best part of this film. Every time it got more serious (with the exception of the beginning when Schneeberger's character asks other to move in with her), I would not say it falls apart, but it is just not as good. The struggles between Wittenborn's and Lauterbach's characters or especially the illness of Lauterbach's character thrown in near the end did nothing for me. The ending did not really blow me away either. And another minor criticism, one scene I really did not like was when they destroyed all those sheets of paper, the lifetime work of Wittenborn's character. I can't believe that did not bother him and he just joined in fully after short hesitation.
But these minor issues I had with the film should not take away from anything earlier. I certainly recommend this movie to those who are interested in German cinema and, as I described earlier, this is truly a movie for all generations, one you could for example watch with your grandparents if you are in the mood for something lighter.