[Review] The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared is a title that rivals this year's upcoming A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence. Based on a Swedish novel, this droll and farcical comedy is notably underwhelming.

After blowing up the fox that killed his cat (Really.), Allan (Robert Gustafsson) winds up in a nursing home. The title proves to be quite literal as the man actually climbs out of the window on his 100th birthday and never returns. He embarks on a solo journey, while reflecting on his quirky life story (which will draw Forrest Gump comparisons), and along the way he accidentally steals a suitcase full of big money. So, the hospital workers aren't the only people on his trail.

The film meanders, perhaps fittingly--but in turn it all feels pretty light, the stakes are mighty low, and the duration is overlong. There is some charm here, and Gustafsson's performance is solid, but the film's flow can't escape its novel trappings. The film lulls and scatters and never feels quite fulfilling.

5.5/10