What you've got here, is a reboot / offspring of an old television series shown about a generation ago. I've got to admit that I never watched the series, for the simple reason that I was watching other movies and series at the time. As a result I'm unable to tell you something about the fidelity or non-fidelity of the movie.
"De collega's 2.0" tells the tale of a group of office workers, all of whom have their quirks or foibles. For instance, there's a guy who's writing a long, long, long Manifesto about the approaching collapse of the Western political and economic system. Another office worker is entirely consumed by love and devotion for her small daughter, to the point where she recounts every tiny illness, in graphic detail. Into this mix arrives a new division head : a middle-aged man who never amounted to much and who obtained the job thanks to his rich father's connections. The man isn't all that competent, but he means well and he plans to turn the office into a happy, well-oiled team. His chief weapon consists of a large variety of English-language management slogans and concepts...
I'm sorry to say that this isn't all that good a comedy. The performances are decent - some are even very good - and there are a few nice lines and jokes, but it all feels mundane and predictable. The characters tend to be shallow and one-note ; during my own career I've met at least twenty colleagues who struck me as more original, more weird and more funny than these walking stereotypes. (It's probably a good thing that I don't know exactly how they felt about me.)
I gather that the movie contains a number of clever references to the original series, but if so they do little to contribute to the general fun.
Still, from a technical viewpoint this is a well-made movie, with considerable production values and beautiful locations. As an inhabitant of the proud and ancient city of Mechelen - or Malines - I would be remiss in not pointing out that part of the movie was filmed there. (Note the famous cathedral tower, visible for miles around.)
"De collega's 2.0" tells the tale of a group of office workers, all of whom have their quirks or foibles. For instance, there's a guy who's writing a long, long, long Manifesto about the approaching collapse of the Western political and economic system. Another office worker is entirely consumed by love and devotion for her small daughter, to the point where she recounts every tiny illness, in graphic detail. Into this mix arrives a new division head : a middle-aged man who never amounted to much and who obtained the job thanks to his rich father's connections. The man isn't all that competent, but he means well and he plans to turn the office into a happy, well-oiled team. His chief weapon consists of a large variety of English-language management slogans and concepts...
I'm sorry to say that this isn't all that good a comedy. The performances are decent - some are even very good - and there are a few nice lines and jokes, but it all feels mundane and predictable. The characters tend to be shallow and one-note ; during my own career I've met at least twenty colleagues who struck me as more original, more weird and more funny than these walking stereotypes. (It's probably a good thing that I don't know exactly how they felt about me.)
I gather that the movie contains a number of clever references to the original series, but if so they do little to contribute to the general fun.
Still, from a technical viewpoint this is a well-made movie, with considerable production values and beautiful locations. As an inhabitant of the proud and ancient city of Mechelen - or Malines - I would be remiss in not pointing out that part of the movie was filmed there. (Note the famous cathedral tower, visible for miles around.)
