Klown (2010) User Reviews

Just one American's viewpoint

[asc85 · 7/10 · 15 October 2012]

At this point, I don't see any Americans giving a user review for this, and while I don't want to carry the weight of my country on my shoulders (!), I thought I'd give a comment here.

First of all, I was surprised that this was an actual TV series in Denmark. I didn't realize this until after I saw the movie, and looked at some of the additional features on the DVD. Now because I was unaware of the TV series, maybe I missed some subtle things about the movie, but I can assure anyone who's thinking about seeing this movie that it was NOT necessary to have seen the TV series in order to enjoy it.

I thought it was funny, and very bawdy and risqué, but after reading about it, I was a little fearful that it would be too over-the-top and tasteless for me. I can see how others wouldn't like it for these reasons, but if you can handle what they do in the "American Pie" series, than you can more than handle this.

Secondly, I'm glad I didn't know that this was being compared to "Curb Your Enthusiasm," because I hate CYE, and I wouldn't have seen this movie because of that. Thankfully, this wasn't at all like "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Don't let that deter you. I thought it was more like the "Jackass" series in America for Klown.

Again, not knowing any of these actors/characters before seeing the film, I liked Caspar the best. When he kept on saying, "It's the Tour de P***y", that would just crack me up.

Very Amusing if cringeworthy Danish comedy

[t-dooley-69-386916 · 7/10 · 29 August 2016]

Frank Hvam plays frank who is one of those man child type of characters. His long suffering wife thinks time may make him grow up but then she gets 'in the family way' and realises he is not that much kop in the father department. So she ropes in a young relative called Bo who is 13 who has some confidence issues.

She wants Frank to look after his young charge to prove he is going to be a good father. The big however is that his best buddy has planned a canoe trip that is intended to take in some of the more 'seedier' sights along the way – what happens is a full on un pc fest.

I really like this it is gross in places and pushes the boundaries of taste but it does so in a really good way. It is a coming of age tale too but all wrapped up in some well acted and conceived scenarios. There is a fair bit of nudity too but all in context – and there is a follow up too – recommended unless you are easily offended.

Like Curb Your Enthusiasm plus various intoxicants

[fredrikgunerius · 7/10 · 27 October 2023]

Ever since the sexual revolution, Danish culture has been one of the most liberal in the world, and the guys behind Klovn: The Movie, Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen, certainly demonstrate their lack of inhibition. Klovn is like Curb Your Enthusiasm plus various intoxicants, and the result is just as funny and entertaining as it is irrelevant and morally dubious. However, the latter quality is one of the great privileges and obligations of comedy, and while Christensen/Hvam may not have any agenda as such, Klovn certainly will stir up some opinions and free the viewer from the Hollywoodized comedy prison of recent years. And if you're not easily exhausted by embarrassments and complications, you'll have plenty of fun all the way through.

The word outrageous is not close to sufficing

[alexanderf · 10/10 · 7 January 2011]

I feel that the Hollywood comedies these days tend to be quite identical. However, the Danish movie Klovn (Clown) is something extremely different, and quite frankly, it's hilarious.

Frank Hvam and Casper Christiansen are very popular in the Nordic countries after their TV series Klovn was a huge success and this movie seems to be the final puzzle in that series. And boy, what can I say? The series was great, but this movie is even better!

To put it short, the movie is about those friends, Frank and Casper, who decide to go on a canoe tour, which Casper chooses to call "The pu**sy tour." However, the tour takes a drastic change when Frank takes his 13 year old cousin on the trip to prove to his pregnant wife that he's a worthy father.

What follows is a series of outrageous events on their journey which I'm not going to name here. However, I can tell you that most of the things in this movie is something you NEVER expected to see on film. That's why I'm so glad I saw this one, it's something absolutely new and so over the top that one can't help but feel awful but cry of laughter at the same time.

Frank and Casper are so self-centered and clueless persons that they have no idea what's ethical and what's not. They just can't seem to figure out right from wrong and that makes way for a lot of hilarious events! This is a movie that makes the audience feel so awkward, that most of the time you're saying to yourself "no no no, he's not gonna do that, nooooo!!!"

To put it short, this movie is something brand new and some scenes are so outrageous that you can't help but wonder what sick bastard wrote this script! But no doubt, it's one of the most hilarious movies I've ever seen. If you have the possibility to see it, you simply have to! You'll never regret it.

Incredibly funny but you wonder if it's safe to laugh

[mark-578-474474 · 9/10 · 15 January 2013]

The film is about Frank; a gullible and dim man who is trying to prove to his girlfriend that he has what it takes to parent a child. A series of events unfold and Frank ends up looking after a 12 year old boy and taking him on a "lads camping holiday". He sees this as his chance to shine and to give the boy a fantastic father like bonding holiday. However there is a festival on and a college trip full of older female students so the mans friend Casper has other ideas. This is a lads break and he will stop at nothing to enjoy it.

As with most outrageously funny comedies it pushes what is acceptable and what is not to the very limit. I wont give any of the key scenes away as it would spoil the film but I will say it's is very similar to Curb Your Enthusiasm in terms of it's comic timing and style - although it steps a lot further over "the fine line" of what is "acceptable".

In terms of story it's non existent and the characters are so over the top you can't really care or feel for any for them in any way. The handful of laugh out loud scenes and dialog totally make up for it and the actors deliver them perfectly.

The funniest movie ever.

[chuckwheel · 10/10 · 17 March 2015]

Having watched and re-watched this film many times and consistently found it hilarious, I can only give it a 10 out of 10. Yes, it is extremely rude, and if you are the sort of person who gets offended, then, yes, you WILL get offended. Yes, it does walk an extremely fine line, but in my opinion it walks that line successfully. No, you are not supposed to admire Casper and Frank, and their adolescent boy-man personas, and the way they trample all over moral and social taboos. But perhaps you will recognize a bit of yourself in them (a bit that, as an adult, you should be keeping deeply repressed!!!).

After seeing the film, i was so excited to find out that there were 60 episodes of the TV show to watch too (currently available on HULU). All are just as good as the movie. One thing in the movie that didn't come across as well as in the TV show is the personalities of Casper & Frank's partners Mia & Iben. They really do a lot to hold the show together, and it's men's relationships with the women that really takes they show to another level beyond what was done in Seinfeld & Curb Your Enthusiasm -- though Klovn definitely owes those shows a debt. My wife definitely loves the TV show, because of the women, but was less enamored with the movie, where the women play a much smaller role.

Will it work in America? No, Not on as large a scale scale as it should. The humor is far to terrifying for your average, fearful yank. I love that Danny McBride is going to attempt a re-make, and after Eastbound & Down he might be the only man that could & even he will have to dumb it down. On the whole, I am much more excited about the original duo's Klovn Forever, due out in Sept 2015.

Lol!!

[ballisticwesker-263-233757 · 10/10 · 18 June 2012]

Well I gotta say that I couldn't wait to see this movie when it came out. I became a fan of "Klovn" when I saw one of the episodes and now I have the whole series in one box. Anyway this is a review about the movie. Since I am an excessive fan of the series I had very high expectations and I mean very very high.

Well the plot starts as a typical "Klovn" situation namely that Frank do something stupid so he has to do something to make up for it again (in my opinion the trademark of the series). The whole crew is back and it is always a good thing since it wouldn't have worked if any of the main characters were played by other actresses or actors.

Now I have to say the movie satisfied all my expectations and then much, much more!! This is the funniest movie I have ever watched in my whole life and I laughed so much I probably woke up my neighbors (watched it in the middle of the night). The movie got the trademark humor from the series and funny and embarrassing moments come after another.

The best part was the twists and when the movie was ending I thought there were no more surprises but I was wrong. Very wrong. The climax of the movie is in my opinion the best ever made in the comedy genre. I laughed so much that I had to struggle to catch my breath, man what a hilarious movie!!!!

10/10

Unique in its absurd way.

[st6374 · 3 May 2016]

There are various coming of age comedy road trip movies such as the Road Trip, Hangover, Euro trip, National Lampoons where the characters stumble and tumble through various misfortunes and accidents to ultimately form a bond that lasts for the life time. And then there is this. Frank is an average guy with good intent who is usually misunderstood and finds himself in circumstances that are inexplicable to others. Because of this Franks pregnant girlfriend is in dilemma of whether to have his kid or not. To prove he is capable of fatherhood Frank abruptly takes his girlfriends nephew Bo on a canoe trip that he had planned with his licentious best friend Casper. The problem is that Casper had planned this trip as a masquerade for his debaucheries, and is forced to take Bo along the trip to allay his girlfriends suspicions. Whatensues next is a series of absurd circumstances due to the crossing of paths between Franks attempt to discover fatherhood through Bo,and Caspers fervent desire to satisfy his lewdness.

Clown is a dark comedy that has its heartwarming moments. It derives its hilariousness based on the misfortune and absurdity of its characters, especially Frank and Casper. If you think that a movie should leave some lines untouched no matter how hilarious the context maybe then you shouldn't watch it. Its a very difficult movie to recommend or watch with someone,especially in America. To put it in some perspective, if you take a movie like "Big Daddy" and turn it to a Mature Audience (MA) dark comedy road trip movie,then you will get something remotely close to Klown. So,if you think that comedy can cross lines based on the context, are willing to sit through some moments that might disgust one part of you and make the other half snigger, you should watch Klown.

So disappointing

[thefultons-43149 · 2/10 · 18 October 2021]

Was really looking forward to this after I heard some film critic on the radio talking about Danish films, say it was even better than 'Another Round' (which I loved). Have to disagree though, I thought it was utter tripe. And uncomfortably cruel.

A great cocktail of humor and embarrassments

[denglidendekop · 9/10 · 10 December 2010]

In short, Klovn the movie is a giant episode from the TV series. The time frame has been utilized fully, allowing the storyline to bring in more celebrities, many cool locations, great side stories and plenty pure uncensored Frank and Casper moments. It takes Klovn to new heights of obscene situations and awkwardness that will either crack you up laughing or leave your toes crooked for eternity.

If you liked the TV series, this will obviously be something for you. You shouldn't expect major surprises in the storyline, just more and more of the stuff that makes Klovns humor so merciless and entertaining.

The klovn is back

[lirongyang82 · 10 December 2010]

An absolute fun and cathartic movie for a December night, probably one of the most hilarious movies I have ever seen. A great extension to the TV sitcom, with all the familiar and delicious awkwardness of Frank. His honesty still doesn't serve him a good dish, while his little tricks lock him down in the puddle even more. Casper, ever the philanderer, takes things up even another notch in his shameless tour de F*** this time. Things are surprisingly wild and boundless in this picture, yet the notion of Frank's fatherly responsibility warms hearts and wets eyes. Short yet characteristic cameo appearances by many Danish entertainers, with Iben and Mia still being lovely. Parents, be aware of the nudities and explicit sex scenes; non-parents, enjoy the bluntness of yet another one of Frank and Casper's great adventure.

Klovn XL

[mmuggi · 9/10 · 14 July 2021]

Clown works perfectly well on movies where they have the time and also more means to cross boundaries. And limits exceed it. It has some good shots and a plot that moves more or less smoothly forward. There's a big camel that deals with a possible rape that just needs to be swallowed, but other than that, the film is cross-border, humorous and just Clown.

Avoid it

[WillInDenmark · 2/10 · 23 May 2023]

Klovn is a Danish comedy film that left me feeling incredibly disappointed and questioning the taste of those who find it amusing. I must admit, there were a few instances where I chuckled, but overall, the movie is a prime example of the worst kind of childish humor.

From start to finish, Klovn relies on puerile jokes and crude innuendos that only serve to showcase the filmmakers' lack of creativity. The entire premise seems to revolve around the main characters, Frank and Casper, engaging in juvenile antics and embarrassing themselves at every turn. It's like watching two grown men regress into prepubescent adolescents who have no grasp of intelligent humor.

The film's fixation on sexual humor is particularly disturbing. Klovn seems to revel in objectifying women and reducing them to mere sex objects for the male characters' entertainment. It's disheartening to see such regressive and sexist content being presented as comedy. The constant barrage of lewd and offensive jokes only highlights the filmmakers' complete lack of respect for women and their inability to come up with anything remotely clever or original.

It's frustrating to think that movies like Klovn continue to be made, perpetuating the notion that this kind of immature and degrading humor is acceptable. The fact that it has managed to gain a following and receive praise from some only underscores the decline of comedic standards in our society.

Furthermore, the film's attempt at social commentary falls flat. Any potential depth or substance is drowned out by the overwhelming focus on shock value and tasteless jokes. Klovn tries to pass itself off as satire, but it merely comes across as an excuse for lazy writing and an excuse to indulge in offensive content.

In conclusion, Klovn is a prime example of the worst kind of childish humor. Its reliance on puerile jokes, objectification of women, and lack of intelligent comedy make it a truly disappointing experience. It's disheartening to witness the decline of comedic standards in our society when films like Klovn are celebrated and given a platform. I would strongly advise against wasting your time on this tasteless and offensive movie.

Fairly generic, but less fun than the TV series...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 25 December 2018]

While I can't proclaim to be a fan of either Casper Christensen or Frank Hvam, I have seen a fair amount of episodes from the "Klovn" TV series, and of course I also got to watch "Klovn: The Movie" some time ago.

This movie felt like a prolonged episode of the series, and it didn't really feel like a movie. Perhaps because the concept of "Klovn" is not really one solid enough to support an entire movie's worth and length of debauchery.

There were some laughs here and there throughout the course of this movie. Not many, but they were there. And they were sufficient enough to make it durable to sit through a feature length of "Klovn".

I have watched "Klovn: The Movie" twice since it was released in 2010. The movie doesn't get better with additional viewings. So that race is over, not doing that again.

This movie is a niche movie aimed specifically for the target audience that are fans of the TV series, that much is apparent. If you are not familiar with the series, then you will not get as much from the characters in terms of the way they act, behave, react, talk and such. So I would recommend that you catch up on the TV series. Plus the TV series is also more enjoyable as it comes in smaller packages.

Well, er, yes...?

[punishmentpark · 5/10 · 9 April 2016]

'Klown' may make you very uncomfortable. It did me, at times. Some parts were actually really good in pointing out 'social issues', but other parts were just downright choking the chicken of human conscience... or something like that. Not that that's a bad thing. But, more importantly, not all of it is very funny or even worked out well, in my opinion.

The film looks mostly like an amateur feature film, with not much cinematographic elegance. Maybe it wouldn't be befitting of such a film, but I can't help looking at that side of things as well. The acting is fairly good, and Frank Hvam has just the right face to play this guy.

All in all, it was relatively disappointing, but certainly not all bad or unfunny. 5 out of 10.

I Guess Danes Love Rape?

[yeats_infection · 2/10 · 19 October 2012]

The trailer for this movie claimed it was hilarious and outrageous. The IMDb rating was 7.1, which is pretty decent for a comedy. Most (presumably Danish?) reviewers here are very positive about the film, so I checked it out.

Klown is outrageous, alright - in that every zany episode involves non- consensual sex in some way.

*** Spoilerville ***

A man ejaculates onto a woman's face while she's sleeping, and she has to get her eye treated at the hospital. Another man engages in the statutory rape of a high school student. One character is coerced into participating (half-heartedly) in a threesome, which is actually a funny scene ... until the next day, when the woman involved in the act is upset and says that she felt taken advantage of. Finally, two grown men take ridiculing pictures of themselves pointing at and touching a pre- pubescent boy's penis. And all of this is played for laughs.

I'm all for sex comedies, and while embarrassment and exploration of social taboos are great wells to plumb for humour, I felt downright icky watching this movie. What is it about the Danish zeitgeist that makes sex against someone's will so hilarious?

Not great

[grantss · 4/10 · 27 June 2020]

Had its funny moments but was generally a damp squib. Some elements were too dramatically extreme to make this a comedy, or a good one, at least.

When the Absurd Undoes Itself

[hawk_w3 · 3/10 · 14 January 2013]

After enjoying a number of Danish films, both comedic and dramatic, this movie was nothing if not a significant disappointment. The actual moments of humor are few and far between. There is little that ties the movie together. One nurses the far flung hope that Frank might finally extricate himself from his own idiocy, but even after finally connecting with his own basic humanness in the relationship to the child, and 6 months in jail, we find him still trapped in an obtuseness that doesn't logically follow. The entire last scene would best have been deleted as it effectively undermines what semblance of redemption and growth were struggling to emerge. Any credible story does end up going somewhere other than where it started. Idiocy in and of itself is not comedy, but pathos. 'Klown' ends up coming full circle back to the status quo of dysfunction that it began with. The only one not particularly embarrassed in this last scene is the child whose genitalia has finally matured. Unfortunately the basic maturation of effective narrative eluded both the director and writer.

Bad people doing bad things... how is that funny?

[danzerna · 4/10 · 14 December 2011]

I've seen the sitcom Klovn many times, most Danes have and now I had to see the movie too. When watching the sitcom I've always laughed a little and then felt a baffled by the numerous stupid things Frank and Casper do. It's curiosity that keeps me wathcing and not a real interest. I think it's one of the worst movies I've ever seen, the 4 points it gets are only for following the same theme as the sitcom well and for the good work of the people who worked on the film. My opinion other than that is going south. I hated it, truly. It's very frightening to live in a world where doing as many awful things as you possibly can, is considered humor. I know the concept is surreal, no person would ever get away with anything like that, but till... it's disgusting. I wish both of them would go back to the days of Langt fra Las Vegas, now that was funny, it was surreal and obviously so.

Avoid at all costs

[chn65 · 1/10 · 4 January 2014]

As a Dane, I must warn against this catastrophe.

The fine line between very funny and plain stupid and dumb has been crossed by miles here.

I was never a fan of the TV-shows "Klovn" either, so maybe I am biased.

Sort of reminds me of when small children say "Fart!" and run away laughing ...

I know I may sound like a sour old man. I may not know a lot about jokes, but I know what I like ...

If you have the choice between watching this movie and do something very tedious and boring instead - then get the boring job done!

You will like yourself more for this decision afterward.

A wretched offense to humanity

[WindmillerMedia · 1/10 · 31 October 2014]

This is perhaps the most offensive film I have ever seen. I love a good sex comedy, and some raunchy comedies, but this film makes a joke out of sexual assault, child abuse and other behaviors which are simply not funny. Instead of finding humor in our common foibles, it rubs our faces in the most depraved, anti-social and cruel behavior.

I was perhaps alone in the packed movie house in which I saw the film. The rest of the audience loved it, including my brother-in-law, so clearly I am in the minority. As a filmmaker myself I know how hard it is to hold an audience's attention, so something has been accomplished here. But I cannot recommend against seeing this film strongly enough. It took me days to get rid the sick feeling it left in me.

Funny, but... um, that last shot should have been illegal...

[alelog · 5/10 · 1 September 2018]

'Klown' (2010) - [5/10] - Day 134 of #Movies365

Who recommended this? C'mon, it must have been one of you. That's all I kept thinking throughout this 93-minute endurance comedy that belongs in a subcategory of dark humor that's about ten shades darker, essentially the death metal of black comedy. Think 'Martyrs' or 'A Serbian Film' but with off-color jokes instead of sick images. How long can YOU hold on? So, I vote Vantablack Comedy (that's the "new" shade of black that absorbs 99.965% of light- SO METAL).

I know I have a sick sense of humor, but 'Klown' made me blush. And the big reveal at the very end... that was makeup or prothesthics, right? Or... does everyone who sees this movie end up a registered sex offender? Did I just get the comedy version of the videotape from 'The Ring'? And if I didn't, I'm keeping that idea (to probably do absolutely nothing with).

Anyway, 'Klown' is based on "Klovn," a successful Danish series (I wonder what their measure of success is, or what the Danish version of the Nielsen is, because "Neilsen" already sounds pretty Danish) that aired for six seasons before they made this film with what I have to imagine is all the nastiness and misanthropy that they couldn't get away with on TV? At least that last gag... Jesus, I need to stop thinking about that. They made a sequel in 2015, and they're airing a 7th season right now that includes an episode called "#Metoo" that aired this week, and I don't want to trigger myself with the plot description. The show also seems to be pushing buttons with IMDb and Wikipedia users who believe it's a ripoff of "Curb Your Enthusiasm." I'd imagine Larry David would want to distance himself pretty, pretty, pretty far from this, especially in this climate, even if Sacha Baron Cohen has a remake of the film sold to Annapurna (actually, that's in the right hands).

The film follows Frank and Casper, who are planning to take a canoe trip to a secret orgy for their "Tour De P***y" (think of the name of the "Posse" that Oscar-winning philanthropist Leo DiCaprio used to lead), and it's as gross as you can imagine, except it gets even worse when the disgusting slug-human Frank kidnaps his pregnant girlfriend's chubby weirdo of a nephew to prove that he can be a good father. He cannot, and continually does gross stuff that gets him a "schnozzle"- that move the Three Stooges would do to each other's noses. Frank gets the schnozzle he deserves when he tries to get into the orgy, which makes his nose bleed, so they kick him out. This all happened, and it's only skimming the surface, but it's at least distracting me from the ending bit that I didn't want to relive.

But, oh, there it is again. Overall, 'Klown' is hilarious in parts, but not enough for me to want to dig into the series, the sequel, the German remake, or whatever Sacha Baron Cohen does with it. Okay, maybe I'll watch that one.