Hape Kerkeling Returns: Horst Schlämmer Searches for Happiness – A Film Like Coming Home

There he stands again, with the tie that looks like it's been chewed by a dog, and the charm of a slightly faded family get-together: Hape Kerkeling breathes new life into his signature role, Horst Schlämmer. If you thought the self-proclaimed "internet millionaire" from Grevenbroich was just a fleeting election campaign gag with his famous cry "Isch kandidiere!" (I'm running!), you'd be seriously mistaken. This new film proves it: this odd, uncompromising, and wonderfully honest character in his own unique way has long since cemented itself in our collective memory – and now he's taking over the big screen.

One Man, One Fjord – and a Whole Lot of Schlämmer

This time, the story takes our anti-hero far outside his usual comfort zone. It's about big feelings, an unexpected inheritance, and of course, the eternal pursuit of happiness. The subtitle "Isch kandidiere!" is a clever choice because, as always with Kerkeling, it's never just pure slapstick. Beneath the wild wig and the Rhineland dialect lies a sharp social satire. We see Horst in situations where he's completely out of his depth – and that's precisely where his irresistible authenticity lies. Angelo Colagrossi, who was also behind Kerkeling's successful project "Ein Mann, ein Fjord!" (One Man, One Fjord!), knows better than most how to give these characters the space they need without overdoing it.

If you were in one of the cinemas in the days following the premiere, you saw it firsthand: the huge fan turnout, the genuine affection. It wasn't some high-and-mighty premiere, but a down-to-earth meeting with the audience. That's exactly what defines Horst Schlämmer. He's the anti-star who doesn't try to ingratiate himself. Hape Kerkeling himself once summed it up perfectly: it's about not sucking up to those above you and not kicking down at those below. And that's exactly what this film does. It laughs with Horst, not at him. And it holds up a mirror without being preachy.

Three reasons you need to see this at the movies:

• Authentic Comedy: No forced humour, just characters that feel genuinely drawn from life.
• Perfect Timing: In times of political madness, a character like Horst Schlämmer – who fails but still keeps pushing on – is almost therapeutic.
• Hape Kerkeling at His Best: He delivers a masterclass in how to revive a character after decades and find new layers to them.

"Horst Schlämmer – Isch kandidiere!" isn't a pretentious cinema production aiming for some grandiose masterpiece. It's a homecoming. A reunion with an old mate who leaves you with a grin on your face after 90 minutes. And maybe also with the feeling that it's okay not to be perfect all the time. That it's enough to just give things a go. It's not just funny; it's top-notch entertainment.

So, grab your loved ones, brace yourselves for some Rhineland charm and a bit of chaos. The cinemas are packed – and rightly so. If you saw the crowds in Leipzig, you know: Horst is back. And that's one bloody good bit of news for German comedy.