The Surprise (2015)

Thanks for the memories!

Memorable, crazy movie

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Director Mike van Diem is back with his new movie after 18 years.A mother expecting her death, an emotionless son, the movie begins like this. After the death of his mother, the hero tries several methods to commit suicide, but all in vain. In search of death, he encounters some Indian people who are running a business to help to commit suicide. As usual, he meets the heroine there, who is also looking for the same. Her company brings radical changes in his emotions, he laughs, become angry and as expected hope of life grows in him. Now he needs to get rid of the killers or at-least a delay. The plot is similar to Malayalam movie "Kaakkakkum Poochakkum Kallyaanam". The amazing treatment along with the smaller and bigger "Surprises" makes this movie unique and a different experience.There are some unique similarities with the director's previous movie "Karakter". The absence of love or in this case, he has a glass barrier between him and the real world. The hero grows up without the presence of his father is also a common factor. Beautiful visuals, production design, actors are the great highlights of the movie.

I went to see The Surprise with no expectations, not high not low, but unfortunately I ended up being disappointed. The Surprise is a Dutch romantic comedy with a dark tone, that (for me) failed to be entertaining. For start, being a comedy I didn't find it very funny but what made this film a disappointment is the following: the plot is somewhat predictable from very early on i the movie and the acting is weak at many parts of the movie.I wouldn't classify this title as a bad movie, but certainly for me it's not a film worth the cost of the ticket. Find something else to watch, watch it at home at most.

"De Surprise" marks the long-awaited return of Mike van Diem (of 1997 "Karakter" acclaim). I had no idea what to expect, but wasn't disappointed: it's a clever, self-written, self-produced dark comedy, that surprises with its off-kilter locations, developments and characters.Starting with a funeral and quickly progressing to boy-meets-girl, the setup is of the well-traveled romcom variety, but the story heads for loftier territories after this and keeps us engaged throughout. Van Koningsbrugge and Verbaan acquit themselves well in parts that require a more understated, highbrow approach than their usual brand of comedy, and - essential for this genre - I rooted for them all the way through.What kind of bugs me, though: the main characters in "De Surprise" exhibit a Wes Anderson-ish formal approach to emotions, which, combined with a distinct Wes Anderson-ish quirky world view, setting and storyline, almost made me feel like I was watching a WA-movie, only one without Wes' exceptional talents for art direction and editing.This is not to say "De Surprise" lacks originality: but the day after, it did impress me more as a tight exercise in style than a profound exercise in storytelling - quite unlike the superior "Karakter". It does re-establish Van Diem as an independent, original filmmaker, and here's hoping he'll stick to cinema the upcoming decade.

I had a great time with De Surprise, in which the protagonist seeks death and finds love after an increasingly exciting series of events and plot twists. Director and part-writer Mike van Diem experienced the best training after winning an Oscar: he made a fortune directing TV commercials, where scene setting, messaging and storytelling have to have impact within seconds.This does not mean De Surprise is a roller coaster of cheap effects. On the contrary, it builds up masterfully from an intimate start to a romance to an action movie, to a thriller with superior plot twists. Everything fits in this film. The lead actors are at their best (watch Georgina Verbaan's split-second transformation from shy spinster into ruthless Hindi-speaking killer). Great supporting roles from top actors Jan Decleir and Dutchman Pierre Bokma. Beautiful settings in Brussels, the Belgian and Irish countryside, impeccably put to use for scene development. Great cars, from the Aston Martin to the Facel Vega.This is not your average forgettable foreign comedy. This is a masterpiece.