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this film was fun. there was no thought required to enjoy the jokes or "hidden" jabs at people and stereotypes. a few places maybe tried a little too hard to be funny and didn't quite make it, but overall it was a good laugh and worth seeing.

"wie feuer und flamme" is definitely a must-see film. the look and feel of the setting was very real, and the film's visual style enhanced the emotions evoked by the film's content. i liked that i was able to identify with the characters and their situations, yet still get swept away in the more romanticized dalliances. the director has an effective style that is easy to follow, and through skillful direction of her actors she tells a story that will bring a lump to your throat, a smile to your lips, and tears to your eyes. and on top of all that, you get to hear great music the whole way through. i loved this film.

i laughed the whole way through. the no-name actors gave this film a breath of reality, and after this triumph, i'm sure we'll see much more of them. it would have been easy for this film to bog itself down in the muck of trying to do something really serious with the subject matter and situations, but it remained light and playful and self-mocking. i was actually scared by how much the characters reminded me of my own family! i'm not sure what that says about me, but it makes for some hillarious scenes in the film. everyone should see this comic gem that proves germans have a great sense of humor and can laugh at themselves along with everyone else.