Luke McWilliams gives his review of the 2020 Danish comedy drama, Another Round, starring Mads Mikkelsen and Thomas Bo Larsen.
In Copenhagen, history teacher Martin (Mads Mikkelsen) apathetically leads his graduating class. At a 40th birthday party with Martin’s work colleagues, the group discuss a theory about keeping a blood alcohol level of .05 during the day to help combat their respective midlife crises.
Mikkelsen is a masterclass in class. With Hannibal, he can plate a dinner (and a few corpses) with flourishes akin to the Renaissance all in a killer suit. In Casino Royale he is a master at cards while rocking a tux. In Another Round, it is suggested that Martin used to be ‘the man’ amongst his work colleagues and one to aspire to. At this juncture in his, and his friends’ lives, they are missing a step; all are good men with families and careers who lack the zest and confidence of their youth.
It is with a discussion about how history would have developed without the influence of alcohol that propels the group into an experiment to enhance their professional and personal lives. It is once the group agrees to push the limits that things start (predictably) to go pear-shaped and their respective issues are pushed to the fore where they can no longer be ignored.
Verdict: A strong concept that is easily translatable to a myriad of global drinking cultures, that ultimately holds a confusingly mixed message. Mikkelsen, however, is terrific! 4 stars.
Another Round is screening at Dendy.
- Luke McWilliams | themovieclub.net
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