Trouble Movie on Netflix Review

  A Review of Netflix’s ‘Trouble’

In the expansive realm of Netflix’s international section of films, some manage to catch your eye not due to major stars or budget, but just pure charm. Sweden’s Trouble (original title: Strul) is one such film. This action-filled, strange farce could not be more carefree and chaotic, and Trouble shows how not every film has to take itself seriously to be entertaining. Directed by Jon Holmberg, Trouble feels like a tornado that wraps a classic “wrong place, wrong time” premise with original, coy, laid-back humor.

Sewing Up Chaos

At the center of Trouble is Conny, a divorced salesman utterly formed with humor by Filip Berg. The man’s life is one ridiculous blunder after another, and the movie leans on this, starting with a former marriage, a not-so-trusty friend, and a strange electrician gig gone wrong. Conny’s daughter is a source of happiness. Wanting to be a good father also carries him through the film. The conflict arises when Conny finds himself witnessing a murder during a TV installation gig while wearing noise-canceling headphones. A jumbled and funny series of events unfolds when he is framed and sentenced. Once in prison, however, things get even more ridiculous. Conny, having been identified as a pilot by the inmates because of his ex-wife’s new boyfriend’s job, is pulled into a bizarre prison escape plan by two inmates. It is a nonstop chase and nonsensical situation from this point on, along with a progressively ridiculous series of misunderstandings. The story does not even try for plausibility. Instead, it tells the audience to suspend their disbelief and that they should simply enjoy the ride.

The pleasure of understated humor

Trouble distinguishes itself from most of its genre peers by committing to dry, character-driven humor rather than broader, slapstick gags. The absurdity does not emerge from silly behavior but instead from the absurdity of Conny’s predicament.  And his deadpan comments on the escalating ridiculousness. The weight of this character’s humor lands heavily on the shoulders of Filip Berg, whose commitment to bringing Conny to life projects a character that is very well-meaning but disgustingly unlucky. The increasingly absurd reactions from Conny, with his straight face, pave the way for the absurd situations to feel even more absurd. The character actors, including Amy Deasismont as a detective who believes Conny is innocent, are an asset to the film. The chemistry between Berg and Deasismont is a significant highlight of the film. Their practical partnership gives a believable remedy to the more fantastical parts of the plot. While some reviewers have observed the film’s conventional action-movie clichés and a few moments of logic-defying gaps, these are ultimately easily forgivable when pitched against the overall charm and wit.

A fun and refreshing Scandinavian break

For fans of Nordic cinema’s dark, brooding dramas, Trouble is a little more surprising. The film is proof that there’s not much variety in Sweden, and that’s just because a film is Scandinavian. It does not have to be ponderous, serious, and heavy when viewed in the context of the genre. The film races along, simultaneously engaging the audience with interesting characters and unpredictable detours that keep you alert. It is a movie you come to on a weekend evening. where it is nice to metaphorically switch off your brain and just let yourself have entertaining fun, in the sarcastic high sense of the term. Ultimately, Trouble is an earnest, comedic, and surprisingly charming effort. It does not successfully create a perfect narrative but rather creates an exciting, memorable story. Placing character relationships and the timing of humor as centerpieces. Although it may not be awarded for originality, it is a good attempt, with a solid direction, and a film with heart—it’s worth adding to your watchlist on Netflix.