The 1.5-hour "Mama und der Millionär", which means "Mama and the Millionaire", or also "Ein Millionär für Mama" is a German television film from 2005, so this one has its 15th anniversary this year. The quality (or lack thereof) is easy to see when taking into account that director Behrens as well as writers Holst and Krenzler have Utta Danelle adaptations among their most known career efforts. To everybody who has not heard of Danella before (you lucky ones!), she is just another Rosamunde Pilcher, maybe even worse. It kinda fits that the two actors at the center of the story, Gehlen and Bauer, have also appeared in Danella films. I remember Bauer was quite a heartthrob early in his career, also probably here still, with his surfer series, but a talented actor he has never been. Still I believe that he is better than Gehlen, who is really bad at times here and Bayer "only" weak. Still, if you exclude the fact that they agreed to star in this mess, it can be said in the cast's favor that not even the most talented actors could have made this terrible screenplay work. Always embarrassing to see that even two writers came up with that and still neither realized how there is zero talent involved here. Or probably they just would not want to admit. It already starts in a weak manner and slightly manipulative even looking at how they wwnat us to feel sorry for the female central character with how she cries because her son does not want her to tell him a good night story. Said son is also referenced indirectly in the film's title showing us that this is a film for the entire family. Oh well, it is indeed if you really hate your family. Then you can show it to them. Yes, it is that bad. Quickly afterwards, the action moves forard too the romance story. The main character's best friend has the brilliant idea that Gehlen's character shoould simply start dating millionaire. In order for us to see this main character not as the shallow gold digger she is, she still gives a fairly homely neighbor a chance, but of course the man messes up completely with his rushed marriage proposal. As you can see from the photo already here, she will eventually get together with Bauer's character and their firstg meeting was unbearable to stomach already with the kiss comment and also with how she asks him as a joke if he can give her a huge amount of money. Great joke! Well, at least she finds herself funny. But before the two get together, a lot happens and Gehlen's character meets many many other men on dates. Most of them are failures (at least according to her), but they all want her because she is such an amazing and desirable woman. Not only our Horst, but also the mailman and the creepy guy at the restaurant, but of course she is too good for all of them. You could also say that the way male characters are written in here is really sexist and an insult to the entire gender. Maybe the writers have made bad experiences with men and hate them? Or maybe, they aren't bitter, but just completely void of talent. This is definitely true. But yeah, if you go to a restaurant for a first date, you will never find a man who tells you that he wants two times sex per week for the first couple years. What the heck? Admittedly, the constant phone call interruptions from the son weren't any better there. I guess this was the writers' idea of quality comedy. When the waiter comes with the phone, I almost wanted to throw up. Also interesting how the son does not respect her mother's wish to not be called and she is not able to make sure he won't call anymore. But hey, of course the date is the bad guy in this scenario. And not our gold-digging likable mother. How about if she is so unhappy with all these men, she looks herself for a way to make more money instead turning into a trophy wife. If she can even be called like that. She is clearly not as attractive and desirable as they want us to think here.
Okay, then there is the dog scene. Really animal friendly to give out dogs to people on the occasion of a competition and hey if they don't want it, no prob. There's always the shelter. I'm sure tehy had these dogs from responsible breeders. And unreal how this film depicts this entire competition as an actual good idea. It was also not a good idea for the child actor here. This was the one sequence during which (in the absence of his movie mother) we saw how bad of an actor he really is. Good to see Kemmler is not acting anymore. The right choice. His "I won!" moment was really cringeworthy, aside from the fact that he actually won. And not just any dog, but the last one. But wait, I don't mean it. Of course, I was still too saddened by the moment he had to give the dog back to the lady because he did not have a winning ticket. Unreal stuff. On a side note, this is also one scene during which the soundtrack is especially bad and over the top. There are many others, also during the closing credits. As for Bauer's character: We should not forget that he is a great catch too while e keep seeing all these men interested in Gehlen's. I guess this is what they picked Valencia's character for. There is no real justification why she is in this movie, but let me assure you that she is as bad as everybody else. The idea, by the way, that the female protagonist is in fact not shallow, does not care about money eventually etc. is also a flaed one with all the money presents he makes, for example the hundred bucks after the agitated customer is not happy with a product. Really unrealistic such a strong skin reaction by the way. Also we are supposed to see Gehlen's character as a strong woman, yet she stands there like a girl when the angry customer arrives. Makes no sense. Why was it handled like that? Because Bauer's character got his moment in the spotlight to intervene. So scripted and written. Felt entirely unauthentic, also how he goes very much over the top there. Speaking of "over the top", the final mass flower scene was the epitome of finishing this video on a low note. But hey, it is so so romantic right? The romance conflict leading to this highly expected conclusion was not enough for them, so they also included an angry landlord who does not get his rent for additional fake drama purposes. Embarrassment galore. Also how Bauer's character listens to her date stories all the time as if there was any chance they would not get together in the end.
To finally come up with a real candidate, they bring a very rich and influential guy who is (of course) really interested in Gehlen's character, but maybe not too much the other way around. Everything about this fella was an abomination too. Not his acting, but everything linked to the writing. He knows the Bundesliga football team coach and can introduce the boy to the players, he knows Gehlen's character's boss and can make sure she gets some time off to spend time with him... yeah right. What a small world. Needless to say he also owns a vineyard in Tuscany. Can't make that stuff up. Well, sadly they can. But yeah, of course, like I said, she does not get together with this man, but with Bauer's character, which you could see from the start. I mean smell from the start and let me tell you it is not a pleasant smell, but more like something brown. I am still not over how she treats men like crap that clearly don't deserve her. Because THEY are too good. Look at Naujoks' character. Apart from how his constant falling during football is very unrealistic, at least he goes for it while the women sit on the bench and badmouth him, laugh at him. "He cannot even play football." Very valid criticism why she does not want him as a partner. With Naujoks, I am always a bit surprised by how small his role in some films is. He is at least as known as the lead actors. There are other notable actors in smaller roles here. I mentioned Valencia already and she appeared also as lead in other films as bad as this one here I think. And Hollinderbäumer. Well, he started showing up on the terrible "heute show" a while ago and you can definitely say that quality-wise, this show is on the same level like his movie here, just different genres and formats. Playing in a really minor character on "Der Untergang" does not make you a great actor. Let alone good. He may be experienced and prolific, but he is as bad as everybody else. Always has been, always will be. His emotional moment when he gets the rings back from the oh so caring protagonist could not have felt any more fake. So back to this movie: The question if you have taste in film can easily be answered by your answer to the question if you thought the protagonist´here is likable, if you cheered for her maybe even. If you answer, the latter with yes, the answer to the former is a definite no. And the other way around. I mean just look at the fact how the two are at the end at the same restaurant and look each other in the eye after the collision with the waiter. Again very realistic. Already the collision. People in crappy ARD Degeto films always collide with waiters it seems. In real life, not so much. Annd don't even get me started about the fact that Bauer was the clown at the birthday party... And that she realizes it is the clown she wants. Sigh. I have no more words for all this mess anymore, also about all the proposals in here. That is why I will stop now. I really want to forget about this garbage movie as quickly as possible. You should not even allow it to be a part of your life. Highly not recommended. This is not even so bad it's funny, zero guilty pleasure potential.
Okay, then there is the dog scene. Really animal friendly to give out dogs to people on the occasion of a competition and hey if they don't want it, no prob. There's always the shelter. I'm sure tehy had these dogs from responsible breeders. And unreal how this film depicts this entire competition as an actual good idea. It was also not a good idea for the child actor here. This was the one sequence during which (in the absence of his movie mother) we saw how bad of an actor he really is. Good to see Kemmler is not acting anymore. The right choice. His "I won!" moment was really cringeworthy, aside from the fact that he actually won. And not just any dog, but the last one. But wait, I don't mean it. Of course, I was still too saddened by the moment he had to give the dog back to the lady because he did not have a winning ticket. Unreal stuff. On a side note, this is also one scene during which the soundtrack is especially bad and over the top. There are many others, also during the closing credits. As for Bauer's character: We should not forget that he is a great catch too while e keep seeing all these men interested in Gehlen's. I guess this is what they picked Valencia's character for. There is no real justification why she is in this movie, but let me assure you that she is as bad as everybody else. The idea, by the way, that the female protagonist is in fact not shallow, does not care about money eventually etc. is also a flaed one with all the money presents he makes, for example the hundred bucks after the agitated customer is not happy with a product. Really unrealistic such a strong skin reaction by the way. Also we are supposed to see Gehlen's character as a strong woman, yet she stands there like a girl when the angry customer arrives. Makes no sense. Why was it handled like that? Because Bauer's character got his moment in the spotlight to intervene. So scripted and written. Felt entirely unauthentic, also how he goes very much over the top there. Speaking of "over the top", the final mass flower scene was the epitome of finishing this video on a low note. But hey, it is so so romantic right? The romance conflict leading to this highly expected conclusion was not enough for them, so they also included an angry landlord who does not get his rent for additional fake drama purposes. Embarrassment galore. Also how Bauer's character listens to her date stories all the time as if there was any chance they would not get together in the end.
To finally come up with a real candidate, they bring a very rich and influential guy who is (of course) really interested in Gehlen's character, but maybe not too much the other way around. Everything about this fella was an abomination too. Not his acting, but everything linked to the writing. He knows the Bundesliga football team coach and can introduce the boy to the players, he knows Gehlen's character's boss and can make sure she gets some time off to spend time with him... yeah right. What a small world. Needless to say he also owns a vineyard in Tuscany. Can't make that stuff up. Well, sadly they can. But yeah, of course, like I said, she does not get together with this man, but with Bauer's character, which you could see from the start. I mean smell from the start and let me tell you it is not a pleasant smell, but more like something brown. I am still not over how she treats men like crap that clearly don't deserve her. Because THEY are too good. Look at Naujoks' character. Apart from how his constant falling during football is very unrealistic, at least he goes for it while the women sit on the bench and badmouth him, laugh at him. "He cannot even play football." Very valid criticism why she does not want him as a partner. With Naujoks, I am always a bit surprised by how small his role in some films is. He is at least as known as the lead actors. There are other notable actors in smaller roles here. I mentioned Valencia already and she appeared also as lead in other films as bad as this one here I think. And Hollinderbäumer. Well, he started showing up on the terrible "heute show" a while ago and you can definitely say that quality-wise, this show is on the same level like his movie here, just different genres and formats. Playing in a really minor character on "Der Untergang" does not make you a great actor. Let alone good. He may be experienced and prolific, but he is as bad as everybody else. Always has been, always will be. His emotional moment when he gets the rings back from the oh so caring protagonist could not have felt any more fake. So back to this movie: The question if you have taste in film can easily be answered by your answer to the question if you thought the protagonist´here is likable, if you cheered for her maybe even. If you answer, the latter with yes, the answer to the former is a definite no. And the other way around. I mean just look at the fact how the two are at the end at the same restaurant and look each other in the eye after the collision with the waiter. Again very realistic. Already the collision. People in crappy ARD Degeto films always collide with waiters it seems. In real life, not so much. Annd don't even get me started about the fact that Bauer was the clown at the birthday party... And that she realizes it is the clown she wants. Sigh. I have no more words for all this mess anymore, also about all the proposals in here. That is why I will stop now. I really want to forget about this garbage movie as quickly as possible. You should not even allow it to be a part of your life. Highly not recommended. This is not even so bad it's funny, zero guilty pleasure potential.
