If It Don't Fit, Use a Bigger Hammer (2002)

Excellent but underrated film

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

Blistering performances.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Before I went to the cinema to watch the movie I thought that there was no way at all that it might possibly get even close to its predecessor "bang boom bang". But in fact it did. It is not as good as "Bang boom bang" but almost. As with probably every subculture-comedy it is quite helpfull to be part of it in order to really get it. I grew up with people like those in the movie in my neighborhood and I have to say: Just perfect! The bunch of builders and a nerdy construction stundent that star the movie transport the scenery and the characters of Germany's working class of the ruhr-district area so convincingly and at the same time so hilariously that I can only say: Go and check it out for yourself, you'll love it (if you can speak german though). It's out in Germany on DVD already with tons of superextra stuff on it. It is only a pity that the movie will probably never be one for the screens all over the world as its humor simply cannot be translated as it lives of its language and accent.Martin Bögemann

I have not seen the short version of this film, but I think it would have been better not to try to make a full-length movie out of it. This movie did contain some moments that were just as funny as the director's other (great) movie, Bang Boom Bang (and even a very funny one where a scene from that movie is integrated into this one), however, there are too few of these for a full-length film.Also, the director, who stars in one of the main roles, is certainly not the greatest actor alive, and Diether Krebs, who starred in the short version of this movie but sadly died before the long one was filmed, would probably have given a better performance than his still not-too-bad "replacement".Still, even if - unlike Bang Boom Bang - this film is not likely to become an instant classic in its genre, people who loved Bang Boom Bang will probably still enjoy this film, and so will fans of actors Ralf Richter, Willy Thomczyk or Hilmi Soezer.(7 out of 10)

Who likes bang boom bang would like this film too, but would be heavily disappointed. Succeeded nevertheless Peter Thowarth and its team Bang Boom Bang a funny and intelligent comedy. The detailed painted figures , came plateful and very oversubscribed therefore, but never flat and always life near. The new film however sets on a love Story , thinner figures and a fewer original Gags. A kind film nevertheless it does not have things to the cult. The stamping seeds of messages,and the ingenious timing are missing. Particularly weakly Thorwarths own play, its figure works palely, however it is also heavily beside Ralf Richter and CO to represent a character that is similarly concise. Weakly also the music of Stoppok, at all BangBB and Was nicht passt... behave to each other like the music of the h-Blockxx and of Stoppok.

When I went to a screening of this movie, I asked myself why there's a need to re-shoot a short film that was already well done as a feature-length movie. Well, I was wrong. Not only did director Peter Thorwarth manage to keep up a continuous flow of interesting events, he also blew up the film on its triple length (or even more) without recognizable thinning of the plot. In addition, new events were added that enriched the whole experience.I'm writing this so exuberant, because this way of working is not common usage in Germany. Usually, feature films lack a certain amount of content, and they could in most cases easily be told in 30 minutes. Peter Thorwarth has shown that he is more than capable in handling more than one strang of plot.This movie is - in its own way - hilarious to watch. In its own way, because in Germany, many different definitions of humor exist. The Ruhrpott (where this film takes place) is completely different in their understanding of what's funny than for example Bavaria, Berlin, Hamburg or even neighboring nations like Austria, Switzerland or France. This is the reason why there can't be a "German comedy". You'd have to reduce all jokes and events onto a level that is the least common denominator, and that reduces the effort to something most intelligent people won't enjoy. Peter Thorwarth managed the dangerous tightrope walk between "funny for all of us" and "only funny for people from the area" and managed to produce a good, enjoyable movie. It won't be a milestone of European Entertainment, but it is a good finger exercise for future projects. I, for my part, wish good luck to Peter Thorwarth and his promising talent.