Review: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

I will admit, when I first watched the trailer for THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED, I dismissed the film as another silly comedy about an old man. But whether it was the content or the director (Felix Herngren), the film happily reminded me not to judge a film by its trailer. Adapted from Jonas Jonasson's novel of the same name, THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN is an absurdist delight, full of lighthearted (and at times darkly comedic) fun.

Allan Karlsson (Robert Gustafsson) has led a pretty extraordinary life. A man who doesn't seem to let anything phase him, he has no qualms with the world and so the world has no qualms with him, allowing him many opportunities that are just too coincidental. He has mingled with crowds that you would never believe, and has a penchant for blowing things up. But still, on his 100th birthday, he finds himself alone and at a nursing home. Skipping right past this poignant realization, the film dives headfirst into the real story: Allan's escape from the nursing home, and the adventure that follows.



The film toggles back and forth between present day and the memories of Allan's past, presenting nearly two separate stories: one is a Forrest Gump-inspired history lesson, showing Allan's earlier years as he bumps into famous historical figures and accidentally parties with them, and the other is his adventure after escaping the nursing home, involving a stolen suitcase and a biker gang. He befriends a motley crew of characters along the way, each a unique addition to the story without being belabored -- Julius (Iwar Wiklander), who seems to have just as much disregard for the rules as Allan does, Benny (David Wiberg), who can't make a decision for the life of him, and Gunilla (Mia Skäringer), the animal rights activist who is harboring an elephant in her backyard.

If you're looking for the progression of events to be logical, this may not be the film for you -- Allan should be considered the luckiest man alive, as opportunities fall into his lap. But that doesn't deter from the story - in fact, it kind of becomes a running gag, offering one ridiculous situation after the other with a wink and a nudge. It's as if to say, "We know this would never happen... but as long as you know that, and I know that, we're on the same page and we can have some fun." On the other hand, Allan seems to narrowly avoid countless tragedies - the flashbacks have some pretty dark content, but all perceived with that same unconcerned air.

If you're looking for a laugh, you must check out this film. THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN is now playing at the Midtown Cinema!