Fresh and Exciting

As Good As It Gets

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

We (my wife and I) gave it a solid "8". Maybe I should have given it a "9" ? For some reason we missed this movie when it was running on the cinemas. We've seen "Sommaren med Göran" more times that we can count, and love it. My brother saw it on our recommendation, he's response was a shrug and - Nah. If you like "Little Britain", "Friday nigh dinner", "The Inbetweeners" etc, you'll like this one too. The plot you've probably already read so I won't go into that. Right, just back on the computer from watching it a second time, this time with our children (10,12), thumbs up from them too :)Just as the other series (+ The Inbetweeners movies) mentioned above, they grow on you, don't just watch them once.Cheers,Peter :)

This was a silly and very predictable movie containing ALL the clichés. Still, it was a little interesting to watch the scenes from Thailand, as I have never been there. The beach, the bungalows, the jungle, the elephants, the monkeys, the snakes, the stray dogs, the local people, the flying lanterns... It is also something special with Swedish movies, because it is somehow - however much you consider yourself an intellectual cosmopolite - easier to identify with your own countrymen. I could also relate to the ponderings one has in that age - around 30 - when it is time to stop living like a young boy/girl, get a real job, a husband/wife, children, a house of your own... But often you are yet not sure what is going to be your life's work, or whom you are going to settle down with, or if you want any children... at the same time as you do not want to be left behind all your friends, either. All these insecurities, and big and small love interests in the search for Mr/Miss Right... I think people of just about the same age as the characters, will maybe get more out of this movie. Because when you are in my age (late 40:s)you have all the big decisions behind you, and it is not so interesting anymore to watch movies or read novels about these issues.

Main character Sven is stuck in the RatRace. Living alone, working late with stupid people and no proper life. Childhood friend has written a book, lives the life of an adventurer and appears on a popular TV Show.The friend dies in a silly way (remember, a comedy) and during the funeral Sven meets a Norwegian girl (Gitte) who works and lives in Thailand. All these experiences makes him jump off his boring live and jump on a flight to Phuket where he plans to write The Novel.Anja (Oh ever so beautiful Susanne Thorson), whom Sven met at a Gym, is also traveling to Thailand with 2 friends. They are to be there for a week and then their partner are to come down. But Anja have just broke up with her boyfriend so she is rather hesitant to go.Everything boils down to chance meets in Phuket, love and comedy. This is a warm, funny Swedish movie with lots of short gags. The main story isn't that interesting as it is about man, woman and love. Seen everywhere and in almost every film. What makes this film is all the small details around the characters with David Hellenius as Bar/Restaurant owner + adventure travel arranger George as the diamond.It's a nice, friendly movie with lots of comedy and small things to laugh at. The cast stays in character and it is a nice warm feeling afterward. It's not a great movie but if you have a "nordic" attitude to life, it's a hit.

My wife and me went on a weekend to Østersund, Sweeden and decided to watch a Sweedish movie at the local cinema. We ended up at En gång i Phuket by dumb luck and man did we enjoy it. As two Norwegians we expected to see a dull and boring Swedish movie but this one got to be one of the best Sweden has ever produced. The humor was perfect and we, along with the rest of the audience laughed throughout the whole movie. I recommend this one to all Scandinavians and it's a pity it didn't reach the cinemas in Norway. Some of the actors may not have been the best around and my fellow country girl Jenny Skavlan is limited but she along with the Sweedish actors performed well above what we had expected.