There isn't even a year between this and the release of Til Schweiger's previous film, "Keinohrhasen" ("Rabbit without Ears"). Thankfully, he didn't write the script this time around, so in the ever-growing Schweiger canon this film stands out: Instead of making a romantic comedy about an irresponsible manchild who learns to commit to a meaningful relationship by the end, this one is a broad medieval comedy. It has therefore more in common with similar German period spoof films, like the "7 Zwerge" ("7 dwarfs") movies or the earlier films by Michael Herbig, although none of these are set in medieval times. A big advantage of Schweiger giving screenwriting duties to other people is the fact that he plays a different character than in all his other movies. His stale performance in "Keinohrhasen" didn't convince me of his acting talent, but I found him rather enjoyable here. He is still sloppily mumbling through his lines and his face muscles rarely move, but put a silly wig on him and write him as somewhat socially awkward, and you can make his role kind of funny and refreshing. All the other players in this movie, most of them television personalities rather than actors, don't venture out of their comfort zone, and are therefore not as refreshing. The casting of Thomas Gottschalk as King Gunther is technically spot-on, but unfortunately Gottschalk takes his role far too seriously. Same for Udo Kier. The only genuinely good performance comes from Rick Kavanian, but that doesn't mean he made me laugh. That's because the script is painfully unfunny. Some of the comedy bits are lifted from better films, and stupid pseudo-gags are extended way beyond what is appropriate. Which might be the reason behind the long running time. There is no justification for this movie being almost two hours long, it just makes its glaring writing and pacing issues even more apparent. Many movies like this feature some anachronistic jokes, which often makes it hard for me to develop some interest or belief in their fictional worlds, but those jokes are often reserved for quick one liners, and since these films are typically quite fast-paced, they don't take me out of the story. In "1 1/2 Ritter," however, the pacing is painfully slow, so there is nothing to compensate for all the jokes that don't land or take you out of the movie. The performances, as described above, are very low-energy, so even they don't compensate for the lack of genuine comedy writing. Compare this to the movies I listed as comparisons above (which, mind, are no masterpieces either). As a director, Schweiger is clearly out of his depth directing action scenes. A movie like this doesn't need good action because, unlike most historical dramas, the story doesn't require extended fight scenes, but that didn't stop Schweiger from including them anyway. And because he apparently couldn't afford a stunt double to perform some good choreography, all of them consist of rapidly edited close-ups of Schweiger going "hrrrng!" and violently punching his enemies. As for improvements: At least the pictures in the film have a little more colour in them than in "Keinohrhasen," the camera work in general is pretty good, and the soundtrack is well-placed and might even be listenable if you listen to it independent from the movie.

at least if you are not really into pain. Or with the Scavenger's daughter, the Scold's bridle and the Iron Maiden, they couldn't hurt quite as much as watching this insipid movie. It is based on one idea, one really simple idea: Put actors into a medieval setting, but let them talk and basically act like contemporary TV characters. You can take an old script that was too bland to even use it for a TV soap, change the parts to king, princess, knight and troubadour. That's all. Imagine the men's stupid hairdos that make them look like hillbillies - and what's funnier than that. Don't overdo it like those Monty Python guys, using gags and stuff. The viewers are already laughing about the hairdos, don't over-strain them.That is no exaggeration. The dialog and the storyline are extremely dull. How did the writers manage it to get their script accepted? With no images to distract from the trite content this seems to be an impossible task. Yet they succeeded. They probably put an image of a medieval hairdo on every single page.Though "1 1/2 Ritter" is an intellectual disaster, the lack of money hasn't been the problem here. The art department's work looks alright. There are lots of well known German actors - acting stupid. Is this the most embarrassing role poor iconic Udo Kier ever agreed to stain himself with? Probably not. It's still a pity. The most dignified acting is delivered by Dieter Hallervorden, who's been infamous for his silly comedies in the Eighties. Compared to "Zeroes" comedies like "1 1/2 Ritter" they don't look half bad. A good thing for Mr. Hallervorden, annoying for nearly everybody else.The only thing remotely interesting about this movie is the startling lack of any redeeming qualities and therefore the question: How could this happen?

Well I must say first that lately I've become bored with movies. Kind of an overdose, really, with at least one or two movies a day for the last 3 years. Always the same plots, the same actors, the same styles, the same politically correct and, well, the same everything. So I saw this one thinking that it was going to be the same... again. And boy was I wrong! Of course, there are some "deja vu" things here : the spirit of Shrek, a scene from François Ier with Fernandel, some souvenirs from Princess Bride, some from Kaamelott... But all witty and with good rhythm, and curiously, somehow new. I loved the actors, all unknown to me (though strangely it's been like I've known them forever instantly) but all very good at their part, the casting is outstanding because every character is just so perfectly what you'd expect him/her to be, Lanze wear so seriously his ridiculous hairdo, the Black Knight is so charming, the king so good, the bad one so creepy, the princess so spoiled yet lovable... Anyway, I've spent a very entertaining moment, and I wasn't able to stop before the end, nor did I want to do so, though this has happened to me countless times for other movies lately. It's very well acted, and everything in it just feels right. For me, it's an instant classic. A great and lovable movie, really.

What was that? A comedy? No, a drama, a big drama for Schweiger and his crew. Where to begin? Nearly every, and I mean every part of this movie doesn't work. The abundance of German TV stars can't help this monster of a failure. Worst of the line up is Thomas Gottschalk, a German TV Host. He plays the king to such a disgraceful performance, you wanna cry out load whenever he appears on the screen. The film is supposed to be comedy, but nobody in the theater I was sitting in laughed at the misguided jokes. But why did commercially successful director and actor Schweiger choose this script? We will never find out. The film is completely blown out of proportions, one supposedly joke chasing the next one, where the comedy simply doesn't work! There is no comedic timing, worse there is no direction in this film. Why on earth doesn't Schweiger trust an experienced director? He is clearly more at easy with romantic comedies such as his super success Keinohrhasen or Barefoot. No this Mr. Schweiger is a big dud. And you directed, stared and produced this monster - it is your fault. PLEASE save your money on this 15 Minute long bore of a film. It simply doesn't work at all.