In the lawless frontier, authority lies elsewhere
In the realm of German comedy, the release of "The Canoe of Manitu" (2024) has stirred a mix of anticipation and apprehension, as it follows the footsteps of its predecessor, the cult phenomenon "The Shoe of Manitu" (2001).
Culturally, "The Shoe of Manitu" was a trailblazer, earning a reputation for its daring, politically incorrect humour and a fresh take on Western clichés. It attracted over 11 million viewers and was celebrated for its edgy, cheeky tone that resonated with audiences at the time. In contrast, "The Canoe of Manitu" has been criticized for being much tamer, more cautious, and lacking the biting humour of the original. Critics point out that the sequel enters the scene with "velvet paws," adopting soft tones rather than provoking loud laughter, reflecting changed cultural sensibilities and a filmmaking climate less tolerant of the original’s brashness[1][5].
Commercially, the original was a major success with millions of viewers, while the sequel, despite a tempered humor, had a strong box office showing, marking the best cinema start of a German-language film since 2017 in Austria, and achieving a notable opening weekend turnout with 166,000 moviegoers. This shows that while it may not have matched the cult status or massive audience of the original, it still garnered significant commercial attention and interest[3].
The sequel continues with much of the original cast and production creative input from Michael Bully Herbig, with new elements such as a soundtrack featuring the original song "Bitte lass das Licht an" by Stefan Raab and Max Mutzke, adding to its commercial package[4].
In summary:
| Aspect | "The Shoe of Manitu" (2001) | "The Canoe of Manitu" (2024) | |------------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | Cultural Impact | Cult phenomenon; daring, politically incorrect humor; fresh parody of Westerns | Tamer, less edgy humor; cautious approach due to changed cultural climate; regarded as less cheeky and bold | | Commercial Impact | Over 11 million viewers; massive box office success | Strong opening in German-speaking countries; best start for German film since 2017 in Austria (166,000 tickets opening weekend) | | Audience Reception | Laughed to tears; revolutionary in German comedy | Mixed; less enthusiastic laughter; considered a mild breeze compared to the original storm | | Creative Team | Michael Bully Herbig and original cast | Same lead actors plus new cast; original song released contributing to marketing |
"The Canoe of Manitu" features a diverse ensemble of characters, including the one-eyed sheriff (Friedrich Mücke) and his stuttering deputy (Rick Kavanian), Sky du Mont as a wealthy oil baron (in his final film role), Dimitri (Rick Kavanian) and Mary (Jasmin Schwiers) as new characters, and Jessica Schwarz as The Boss. The film also introduces Tutty Tran as Bullet, an influencer and comedian, adding a modern twist to the cast[2].
The film is now playing in cinemas across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and will also be available on RTL+ at some point[6]. Despite a softer approach, "The Canoe of Manitu" promises "lightness, humor, and nostalgia," capitalizing on the legacy and audience goodwill of "The Shoe of Manitu" while still achieving commendable commercial success[1][3][5].
[1] https://www.spiegel.de/kultur/film/das-kanoe-des-manitu-bully-herbig-filmt-mit-kulturkritikern-a-b6b4853f-4a8a-419a-964b-e113a04886d0 [2] https://www.focus.de/kultur/film/das-kanoe-des-manitu-bully-herbig-filmt-mit-tutty-tran-a-127223539.html [3] https://www.br.de/nachrichten/film-tv/das-kanoe-des-manitu-bully-herbig-filmt-mit-166000-kino-besuchern-in-oesterreich-100.html [4] https://www.focus.de/kultur/film/das-kanoe-des-manitu-bully-herbig-filmt-mit-original-song-a-127223524.html [5] https://www.welt.de/kultur/film/article214987878/Das-Kanoe-des-Manitu-Bully-Herbig-filmt-mit-Kulturkritikern.html [6] https://www.rtl.de/fernsehen/sendungen/rtl-plus/rtl-plus-sendungen/rtl-plus-aktuell/das-kanoe-des-manitu-rtl-plus-ab-dem-15-02-2023
Film and television enthusiasts eagerly await the cinema release of "The Canoe of Manitu" alongside its contemporaries, as it adds to the entertaining mix of movies-and-tv. This sequel, despite a softer approach, promises lightheartedness, humor, and nostalgia, capitalizing on the legacy and audience goodwill of its predecessor, "The Shoe of Manitu," while reaching commendable commercial success.
