Hotel Belgrade

Watched year ago. Seemed like had to review .. btw why short reviews are not allowed here :)))

The story is really crude and simple, but this movie is part of a wider "universe" of content, namely the popular Russian comedy shows "Kukhnya" (Kitchen) and "Otel Eleon" (Hotel Eleon). This film is one of the spin-offs/continuations of these shows, the other ones being "FedyaSenya" and "Grand". It's simple comedy, not a higher art form, but I personally enjoy it very much. This content also helped me a great deal with learning Russian. So before you decide to watch this, if it's even possible you stumble upon it/hear about it without previously having heard of the content family it belongs to, please watch the other shows first. They are genuinely entertaining.

People tend to take things to seriously. This is not such a movie. It's basically a charming little flick of a movie, with hints of Balkan mentality. So, if you are a Westerner watching it, chances are you might not like it. But, make an effort, just sit back and relax. I find too many commentators being too serious.

The young actor, the main protagonist, Milos Bikovic, is very popular in Serbia and Russia and has been acting in both languages and countries. He plays a rich playboy who inherited a five-star hotel in Belgrade, Serbia. His life is all about going out and dating hot women, not committing to a relationship. When he accidentally destroys a three-million euro "piece of art", a miniature statue of a urinal, he starts being chased by the Serbian mobsters. This is a parody of modern art. Anything and everything can be considered art nowadays.

Stumbling upon an old girlfriend from Russia, he speedingly shows her Belgrade - not telling her that he is being chased by the clumsy mobsters.

During their adventure, he will realise who his true love is.

Slavic and Balkan viewers will connect to the story, mentality and humor better, but Western viewers should watch this as well. Why not? Overcome your political feelings of Russia and just watch it. I liked it and had a nice laugh at times. Just give it a try.

The overwhelming majority of contemporary Russian comedies are one continuous disappointment with flat humor. Seeing this rating I expected about what I have already met in this "cinema field". But I decided, nevertheless, to watch as this film was advised to me. And I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw here. Not a brilliant, but not a garbage as well. It deserves some attention. For a very, very long time, I have not met in Russian cinema adequate humor and staging.

Remember the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel? Maybe director was trying to replicate that? If original was strange, this copy was strange enough. Visually is done nicely, has a brief funny moments that only limited audience can understand and the rest is "running around the set" without a clear objective. Could have been done less chaotic....