Well, I don't know the original play the film is based upon so I can't compare, but the film surprised me very much. I didn't expect much amusement (after many critical reviews), on the contrary - I was a little worried. You know, many many Czech films tend to be something more then they really are, but the result is often awkward and you as a viewer are ashamed, instead. But, I'm happy to say it: Mazaný Filip was funny! And I definitely cannot agree with those who say that the performances were bad! (especially Vilma Cibulkova as the diva Velma was super - as in every movie of hers) and the art direction got me as well. Compared with majority of Czech film production, Mazany Filip is without a doubt one of the best made ones and who says it isn't, they probably belong to the above mentioned category of pseudo-intellectuals. It's definitely worth seeing.

I give three stars for the visual side of the movie, otherwise I cant find almost anything good on it. At the beginning, I expected that the slow pace would change and we would see some bizarre comedy in Lemonade Joe style. Unfortunately, nothing happened and I was forced to listen to eye-closing monologue of the title hero (TomᚠHanák) and other "funny" dialogues between him and various "baddies". I really don't know what director Marhoul meant with his words that he would like to propagate it abroad, even in America. If some American saw this film misery, he would never touch a movie of Czech provenience! I was lucky to see it on DVD, otherwise I would leave a cinema house after cca 40 minutes. However, I would strongly recommend it to patients suffering from sleeplessness. But I must warn that such a tediousness can even kill.

The reason why I didn't title this movie as a Great Parody, but rather a Great Czech Parody is because it's going to be incredibly hard for any non-Czech speaker or even a person that hasn't lived in the Czech republic for a few years, therefore doesn't have the insight into its realities and the Czech sense of humour to grasp all the subtle and even the over-the-top jokes that usually loose all its impact through translation. That is of course very unfortunate because this movie is all about jokes and obviously wasn't made for foreign audiences. It's all black humour - some of it quite smart, most of it intentionally silly and over-the-top jokes, that make its Czech audiences screaming with laughter.I read a complaint here about the Czech actor painted dark brown with white lips and a lil' afro going on... basically acting a role of an African American in the movie. OK, it wasn't the smartest move from side of the director etc., however it does fit into the general funny and over-the-top silliness of this parody/comedy. Again, I wouldn't expect many people to get it... it even took me a bit to overcome the PC bloc in my head. All I have to say about this is: Guys, relax, it's a comedy! So, to conclude this 'review'... it's effin' nuts and it's doing a helluva job of it!! :) To all the Czechs/Polish/Slovaks and Czech-speakers of the world: you gotta see this. To the rest of the globe: you can try it out, but... well, you can judge for yourself, you might love it, who knows.

Undoubtedly one of best Czech movies of the last time. Maybe "Pelísky" could compete, but that is all. Clever plot, intelligent dialogs, original funny tricks, over fifty links to other movies such as "Limonádový Joe", "Pulp Fiction", "Batman" and others.Vilma Cibulková is great, smoking cigarettes with long, extremely long cigarette-holder, drinking whiskey from big, extremely big glass, having big, very big breasts...In episode roles appear such great Czech actors as Dusek, Holubová, Preis, Standler, Vávra, Vorel, Trojan, and many many many others.