"Werner - Beinhart!" is the first, the best and also the longest movie (90 minutes) from the Werner franchise so far. It runs at least 10 minutes longer, maybe because it also has live action sequences unlike all the films except the most recent fifth installment. The other ones are pretty good though as well, just not as great as this one.
25 years have already passed since this got released, wow what a long time. It was a huge commercial success too and that is why there are so many sequels. Besides, a Rumpelstiltskin reference early on, this film features quite a decent cast. Johannes Silberschneider, Ludger Pistor and the very young (maybe 20-year-old) Meret Becker are among Germany's acting elite to this date. The recently-deceased Otto Sander, already famous back then, is the narrator and he reappears in later Werner films too. During the early live action sequences, Brösel basically plays himself a couple 100 years ago how he tries to make the King laugh. Sadly the king has a sickness which won't let him. Bad news for Brösel. However, the animation sequences are the real highlight from the film. The football part early on is pretty great and the plumbing sequence with Mrs. Hansen shortly afterward may be the highlight from the whole Werner franchise. This is also what made Meister Röhrich my favorite from the gang. He is incredibly funny here as is everybody else, including the guy who won't give them the key.
Apart from that, the film has some nice music including the very first song already. The humor won't be everybody's cup of tea though. It is vulgar, politically incorrect and includes breasts, vomiting, feces etc. Let me give you one example of a wordplay from this film. There is a judge who is called "H. Odensack", which means literally translated "S. Crotum". But it's much more than that. It may be difficult to see the creative approach at first, but it is certainly there (unlike in films like "Das kleine Arschloch"). Lots of talent in here. If there was one part from the film that did leave me unimpressed, it was probably the very short Neanderthal sequence. And then there is some short funny sequences like the bear Bärbel part for example. Even these are more entertaining than most of the live action sequences. The first half is not as great as the second anymore, but it is not bad either. I thought the hospital sequence was fine. Then there is also a crane sequence and if you know how everything technical in these films turns into disaster, especially with Röhrich nearby, you knew that a huge mess was about to happen.
These films are probably not too suitable for children, even if people don't die here. Finally I would also like to mention a hippo/crocodile quote. I'm not sure if this was the purpose, but I had to think of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer immediately. Anyway, great movie and I highly recommend watching it. There are not that many (famous) animated films from Germany, but this is certainly a highlight.
25 years have already passed since this got released, wow what a long time. It was a huge commercial success too and that is why there are so many sequels. Besides, a Rumpelstiltskin reference early on, this film features quite a decent cast. Johannes Silberschneider, Ludger Pistor and the very young (maybe 20-year-old) Meret Becker are among Germany's acting elite to this date. The recently-deceased Otto Sander, already famous back then, is the narrator and he reappears in later Werner films too. During the early live action sequences, Brösel basically plays himself a couple 100 years ago how he tries to make the King laugh. Sadly the king has a sickness which won't let him. Bad news for Brösel. However, the animation sequences are the real highlight from the film. The football part early on is pretty great and the plumbing sequence with Mrs. Hansen shortly afterward may be the highlight from the whole Werner franchise. This is also what made Meister Röhrich my favorite from the gang. He is incredibly funny here as is everybody else, including the guy who won't give them the key.
Apart from that, the film has some nice music including the very first song already. The humor won't be everybody's cup of tea though. It is vulgar, politically incorrect and includes breasts, vomiting, feces etc. Let me give you one example of a wordplay from this film. There is a judge who is called "H. Odensack", which means literally translated "S. Crotum". But it's much more than that. It may be difficult to see the creative approach at first, but it is certainly there (unlike in films like "Das kleine Arschloch"). Lots of talent in here. If there was one part from the film that did leave me unimpressed, it was probably the very short Neanderthal sequence. And then there is some short funny sequences like the bear Bärbel part for example. Even these are more entertaining than most of the live action sequences. The first half is not as great as the second anymore, but it is not bad either. I thought the hospital sequence was fine. Then there is also a crane sequence and if you know how everything technical in these films turns into disaster, especially with Röhrich nearby, you knew that a huge mess was about to happen.
These films are probably not too suitable for children, even if people don't die here. Finally I would also like to mention a hippo/crocodile quote. I'm not sure if this was the purpose, but I had to think of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer immediately. Anyway, great movie and I highly recommend watching it. There are not that many (famous) animated films from Germany, but this is certainly a highlight.