VODebut: From Germany, Peter Thorwarth's NOT MY DAY proves a funny, crazy delight

That the famous -- and still quite beautiful -- Columbia Pictures logo is the first image we see on-screen for the 2014 German box-office hit NOT MY DAY (Nicht mein tag) should indicate that we have a rather mainstream, Hollywood-inspired European movie on our hands.

Indeed we do, but it's one that's funnier, smarter, more and surprising and appealing than, say, any of those Hangover films. And while the movie is quite obvious about what it is and where it is going, how it gets there--ah!--that's what proves to be so much fun.

In fact, even before the halfway mark arrives, we've already reached the point that would be the finale of any self-respecting U.S. action/comedy/bromance (which this film most definitely is), during which our heroes -- one a criminal/bank robber, the other a nebbishy bank clerk -- have bonded, enjoyed some fun together and gone their separate ways, after a fulfilling, comedic, and now slightly sad bromance. And then the fun really begins.

As co-adapted (from the novel by Ralf Husmann) and directed with energy, verve and pacing good enough to take us through a nearly two-hour time frame (which is long for a comedy) by Peter Thorwarth (shown at right, and yes, his last name does sound like Star Wars with a Castilian accent), Not My Day builds beautifully from an opposites-attract/fish-out-of-water scenario into something a little bit deeper and more original. Nothing profound, mind you, but a good deal better than the crap we often get from Hollywood would-be comedies. Herr Thorwarth was one of the writers responsible for that smart and troubling students-turn-into-fascists film, The Wave, so it's good to see what else this young man has been up to of late.

Not My Day also boasts two terrifically-played performances from its well-chosen leading men: the ever-versatile and stops-out actor Moritz Bleibtreu (above) and a fellow new to TrustMovies but evidently very popular in Germany, Axel Stein (below).

While the wonderful Herr Bleibtreu initially seems to command the movie (as his character does Herr Stein's), once we arrive at the turning point mentioned above, Stein's character Till takes over, and the film grows ever wilder, funnier and crazier, while just managing to hang on to that iota of credibility movies like this one need to stay on track.

On the distaff side, we've got another pair of performers who fill their very different roles quite nicely, too: Jasmin Gerat (above) as Bleibtreu's main squeeze, the take-no-bullshit Nadine, and Anna Maria Mühe (below), as Till's more passively-aggressive partner, Miriam. Both our heroes, as it turns out, are somewhat pussy-whipped fellows.

How the two men bond, fuss and fight makes for a good deal of fun and frolic, and the changes that occur in both of them are are managed by Thorwarth and his co-adaptor Stefan Holtz with enough pizzazz and believability that we easily follow along.

While Bleibtreu does the expected first-class job, Stein gets the more showy role in which he evolves from milquetoast to nutcase and finally into something nicely calibrated between the two. In just about every way, Not My Day proves an example of European mainstream action/comedy/bromance. Yet it is such a good example of this particular genre mash-up that I can only wonder why it's taken so long for the movie to reach us.

The film is being distributed here in the USA by Under the Milky Way, is in German with English subtitles, and runs one hour and fifty-five minutes.

It opens on VOD nationwide this coming Tuesday, July 11 -- on all major platforms including iTunes, Google Play, Amazon, Microsoft, Vudu, Comcast, Charter, Cox, Vimeo, and various other cable operators.

If you're looking for a divertissement that's glossy, fun, and a just a little different from your usual fare, Not My Day should very nicely fill the bill.

Seth Rogen/Evan Goldberg/James Franco's THE INTERVIEW: Relax, it's worth the $6 stream

The first maybe 25 minutes of the much-bandied-about movie, THE INTERVIEW, is so on-target and funny that you're going to be shocked that the comedy didn't get better reviews. Most audiences, it seems, are going to the film -- in theaters, at least -- to help champion freedom of speech. Or, in this case, freedom of watch. That's commen-dable -- though one might wish for this kind of support in turning back climate change. Still, this new movie, with a screenplay by Dan Sterling, is certainly the "film of the year," so far as making news is concerned.

What with its distributor, Sony, doing back flips and pretzel twists in order to somehow "make everything all right," the fact that the film has ended up on theaters screens and digital streaming for the holidays seems a major accomplishment, considering all that has gone before (much of it for which Sony itself can take credit). After initially blaming North Korea for the hacking, it now seems more likely that Sony insiders (or ex-insiders) might be responsible for the hacking and leakage. Whatever eventually comes out, the movie, co-directed by Evan Goldberg (shown at right) and its co-star Seth Rogen (below, right) begins on such a fast-paced, funny and high note that you will fear it cannot possibly maintain this pace and humor for its full length. And you'd be right.

The reason for this, from what I can ascertain, is that its co-directors, writer, and co-star/co-executive producer (James Franco, above, left, and below, right) know and care a hell of a lot more about celebrity, success and the Hollywood life than they do about North Korea. Consequently, when the movie concentrates on satirizing the former, it is riotous and on the mark. When it reaches North Korea, about half an hour in, it relies mostly on the usual blather about that sad, dictatorial little country and, plot-wise, offers up the usual coincidence, cliche, and mostly silly nonsense of every other ordinary, tired, would-be action comedy.

Don't get me entirely wrong: There are some funny moments that take place in the Korean section. But these are too few and far between to count for much overall. Plus, the humor here relies so flagrantly on fart, poop and butthole references that one does begin to wonder, after a time, how not-so-wide-ranging are the interests of these filmmakers. What they care about most seems to concern what comes out of (and goes into) the male anus. To each his own, as they say.

The North Korea section is funniest, again, when Franco and filmmakers stick to the travails of celebrity, in which the pudgy little dictator, Kim Jong-un (played quite charmingly/nastily by Randall Park, above, center) appears to find himself enmeshed. Otherwise the movie relies on the obvious and usual: women as sex objects (more like beards for the over-the-top homo-eroticism between our boys) and blowing things up. There's even a cutesy dog (below) used for cuddly irony.

One wonders, after awhile, why the writer could not have spent a tad more time trying to come up with even a remotely believable scenario. Instead, our twosome gets into North Korea so easily and manages to outwit its rather small cadre of dictator-protectors with no problem whatsoever. (Even the expected cavity search of the Rogen character -- he's carrying a small missile up his ass -- is not done at the moment when it obviously should be. Then, rather stupidly, that search is mentioned after the fact.)

If Rogen merely does his usual good work, Mr. Franco comes through with flying colors. The actor is sensationally good at kidding his own image, calling to question the reality of each situation by milking it for every bizarre layer. He is getting to be a master at this sort of thing -- while entertaining us like crazy. So, if you miss its Christmas theatrical run, you can stream The Interview online as we did (via YouTube) for just six bucks. That's a hell of a lot cheaper than paying $23 (the typical price for two senior tickets here in NYC), and you can cuddle on the couch while you view.