Bet on Friendship

Patrik Hartl's film tells, in a rather artful way, the story of four friends who arrive in their lives at the Midlife Crisis station, trying to come to terms with this unwanted but almost necessary stop. Each member of the central quartet had a major problem in their life story, and their actors really inhabited their characters well – Hynek Čermák definitely impressed me the most, with Martin Pechlát close behind. Although the film has a comedy genre in its profile, it offers a lot of dramatic scenes in which the four protagonists try to grapple with "adult" problems using childish challenges and "heckling matches". The first challenge didn't quite work for me, but I was happy with the dramatic-comedic construction of the rest of the film. By Czech standards, an eminently believable film with solid performances and a a plot that is not shallow. (31/07/2021)

In the last two days, besides this movie, I've also seen Sweethearts. And that kinda forces me to give Prvok and Co. an extra star, because the difference is just huge. Okay, sometimes I didn’t quite catch the humor, but otherwise I enjoyed it quite a bit. A good ensemble, the charismatic Hofmann... I'll gladly give it another go and I’m looking forward to seeing Patrik's next film. More than his next book. (27/02/2022)

I read the book, it entertained me, and I secretly hoped that when the author himself adapted the book into a screenplay and directed it, it could turn out well. And it did. Patrik Hartl did not disappoint Patrik Hartl and finally created a Czech comedy that I can genuinely enjoy. Without any effort. The cast of the four main roles smelled like perfection, Jana Kolesárová is already forty-five, but her sex appeal clearly doesn't care about that, humor and a subtle kind of sadness were present and active (but it wasn't some superficial Troška-esque nonsense) and I enjoyed it effortlessly. The author of the source material, the screenwriter, and the director managed to agree on the necessary (but unforced) shortening of the original text, and according to me, neither of the Hartls needs to be ashamed of the result. It was great, two hours passed like water, and I could easily endure it for a while longer. I'm glad that it succeeded once again in the domestic environment. (04/01/2022)

One of the best Czech films (comedy) in recent years. Great characters, mid-life crisis, funny, touching, entertaining and well acted. I recommend it. The film and the premise are on par, and most importantly it features about 50 Czech well-known actors, which was a damn pleasure. Hofmann again is the best. 8/10. (20/12/2021)

Composition of chatterboxes and perpetually dissatisfied men, who would like everything and everyone to fall into their lap on one side. On the other side, a sad composition of women who dare to occasionally ask something of men. And when they visually or by expectation deviate from the norm, they voluntarily wait in the corner or even beg. Patrik Hartl may be writing and filming erotic or life desires and goals, but the result is so unpleasantly toxic that I will rather avoid him in a wide arc. The author's massive popularity in a package of almost-values presented is quite terrifying to me, but unfortunately also explanatory within the aggressive twenties. (06/08/2023)