I don't know why this film has a rating of 5.5 stars here on IMDB. I don't know why it has a rating at all: out of 10 stars, it deserves 0. Unless your definition of a comedy is people shouting annoyingly and drinking all the time, you wouldn't find it funny or entertaining.
Arguably, it is a semi-accurate portrayal of a provincial Russian wedding, with parents wanting a big pompous event for the whole family and disregarding the wishes of the newly-wed couple themselves, but... So what? Literally, what's the point, what are they trying to say?
"Gorko!" fails to make a statement, to develop this wedding situation in whatsoever way, it literally just films it, and that's it. Beside some flat and weak jokes (like the one about parasites) being repeated over and over again, there isn't much of a comedy element in there. Characters? Poorly written and illogical; if they inspire any feelings in the viewer, it's the feeling of annoyance and tiredness. I don't enjoy screaming and howling characters, I don't find them funny. I don't like hysterical characters, either. Maybe someone likes it in a comedy, but not me. Especially when the whole "comedy element" relies on that - on that, and on the excessive alcohol consumption. Speaking of which...
It's true that a lot of comedies rely on a heavy consumption of alcohol (see Hangover) or drugs (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), but it's because it either helps establish a comedic character (like in Whithnail and I) or leads up to a farsical situation (as in said Hangover). But the sheer process of drinking, what's funny about that? You can see people drinking heavily in a pub at their night out; you wouldn't film it and label it as a "comedy". Why do it to a wedding? You would think that it would lead up to some conflict of situations, or provide the unexpected and funny plot developments, but no. As I said previously, "Gorko!" fails to make use of that.
The plotline is straight, flat, uninteresting and unredeeming. Everyone drinks, fights, acts like alcohol-crazed pigs, and then... Suddenly (and without any reason or explanation whatsoever!) everything is fine, everyone loves each other again, and basically ignore what's been going on for the whole duration of this "film". It's like they ran out of ideas (read: cocaine) and had to come up with a denouement on the spot. It went poorly. As did the whole film.
View at your own discretion, but be warned: unless you find obnoxious screaming, grimacing, hysterical fits and incessant drinking funny, you won't enjoy this meaningless and tasteless production of yet another money-grabbing director. My verdict: 0/10, would erase my own memory and never watch it again.
