The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared **** (2013, Robert Gustafsson) – Movie Review

Robert Gustafsson stars as the dynamite expert Allan Karlsson, who escapes through the window from his old folk’s home on his 100th birthday, just when they’re bringing his cake around, along with what turns out to be a suitcase of drugs money, and then gets mixed up with a band of quirky misfits.

It could be the setup for a Scandinavian gangster thriller, but instead it’s a life-affirming, feel-good black comedy.

Based on the 2009 internationally best-selling debut novel by Jonas Jonasson, this thoroughly entertaining and richly enjoyable Swedish Forrest Gump-style movie narrates his life story in amusing flashbacks while it follows the unlikely events of Allan’s unexpected journey that just goes to show it’s never too late to start over.

Bizarrely, Allan’s current adventure involves East End gangster film favourite Alan Ford, having lots of fun.

The 100-Year-Old Man hits the right tone throughout. Just when it seems to be getting too soft or sentimental, it kicks in with some hilarious black comedy. Gustafsson is great, in a role Tom Hanks or even Harry Enfield would die for. Expect a remake with one or other of them starring any time soon.

Co-writer/director Felix Herngren’s offbeat, oddball movie is a funny and joyful delight.

Original title: Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann.

Robert Gustafsson isn’t yet 50, half his character’s age, at the time of filming. Born 20 December 1964, the Swedish comedian and actor has sometimes been called ‘the funniest man in Sweden’.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1360

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Author Jonas Jonasson.