It is tricky to create a cop comedy - crimes are seldom ennobling and people tend to regard policemen as wise and setting good patterns. However, Naked Guns became very popular - and Kommissarie Späck follows similar steps, with some help from other peculiar movies such as Hot Shots! or Scary Movie series.
To enjoy the film in question fully, you should see at least a couple of Martin Beck movies first, particularly the TV series with Peter Haber and Michael Persbrandt, among others; otherwise many scenes may seem ridiculous or ambivalent - next to those already twisted and exaggerated. The story-line is still present and severe felonies have been alleviated by "softer" torts, leading to rather mild - but still distinctive and witty ending, using all more or less improbable scenes and lines the US cop films are famous for. The cast is also evenly strong, many actors have had their roles in original Martin Beck films. My favourite is Johan Hedenberg as Grünvald Karlsson, although he was easiest to imitate, but still...
I watched the film in the midst of watching Beck-series and I liked it: I had my gigs and laughs, and the "real" series I saw later obtained a new angle for me. If you are not a serious Martin Beck admirer, then Kommissarie Späck provides a peculiar value beyond. To my mind, the film has been underestimated so far.
To enjoy the film in question fully, you should see at least a couple of Martin Beck movies first, particularly the TV series with Peter Haber and Michael Persbrandt, among others; otherwise many scenes may seem ridiculous or ambivalent - next to those already twisted and exaggerated. The story-line is still present and severe felonies have been alleviated by "softer" torts, leading to rather mild - but still distinctive and witty ending, using all more or less improbable scenes and lines the US cop films are famous for. The cast is also evenly strong, many actors have had their roles in original Martin Beck films. My favourite is Johan Hedenberg as Grünvald Karlsson, although he was easiest to imitate, but still...
I watched the film in the midst of watching Beck-series and I liked it: I had my gigs and laughs, and the "real" series I saw later obtained a new angle for me. If you are not a serious Martin Beck admirer, then Kommissarie Späck provides a peculiar value beyond. To my mind, the film has been underestimated so far.