A Budapest Film release of a Megafilm production, in association with RTL Klub. (International sales: Magyar Filmunio, Budapest.) Produced by Gabor Kalomista. Directed by Tamas Sas. Screenplay, Richard Salinger, from his own novel.
With: Kata Gaspar, Boglarka Csosz, Andras Kern, Janos Kulka, Mari Kiss, Janos Koos, Rita Tallos, Mate Haumann, Marcell Mate, Jozsa Hacser.
Magyar girls just wanna have fun in "Dad Goes Nuts," a glossy, single-swallow movie that's just as dumb as any stateside counterpart about teens on a credit-card lam. Produced by commercial maestro Gabor Kalomista, pic reps a conscious swerve toward mainstream entertainment by helmer Tamas Sas ("Espresso," "Bad Guys") and locally has proved a sizable hit, clocking up 160,000 admissions since last December. Outside Central Europe, chances are more limited.
Written (and per credits, storyboarded) by 26-year-old writer Richard Salinger, from his own novel, movie follows a spunky Plain Jane, Szarka (Kata Gaspar, daughter of well-known thesp Ildiko Bansagi), who gets a summer job bartending by Lake Balaton, meets up with blonde airhead Barbi (Boglarka Csosz) and hightails off with her to Crete, Barcelona and Rome, with various romantic complications en route. Brightly lensed by maestro d.p. Elemer Ragalyi, and scattered with vets in small roles (including popular Andras Kern as a poolside lech), pic will seem unfathomably antipathetic by anyone over 17, but is made watchable by a slowly likable perf from Gaspar as the diminutive Szarka (Magpie), perpetually in the shade of her glamorpuss buddy.
Camera (color), Elemer Ragalyi; editor, Klara Major; music, Gabor Berkes, Betty & the Bougenwilles; costume desinger, Dalma Devenyi. Reviewed at Hungarian Film Week (competing), Budapest, Jan. 31, 2004. Running time: 96 MIN.
Contact Derek Elley at
derek.elley@variety.com
Date in print: Mon., Feb. 16, 2004