Review: Run Lola Run (1998)

Every once in a while I like to take a break from the usual multiplex movies and visit my neighborhood art-house cinema. Yesterday, to remedy myself from the dismal Big Daddy, I decided to take in a nice little foreign movie. But the film I saw, Run Lola Run, is anything but nice and little.

It’s perhaps the fastest paced piece of celluloid I have every had the pleasure of seeing, and without much violence generates and incredible adrenaline rush. My heart thumped through most of the movie as I sat there in awe of what was occurring onscreen. Without the aid of CGI Spiders, or tall dark city sets, or neon Bat-mobiles, it’s visually arresting thanks completely to style. Many movies have sections with pure style, but few have dared to 100% go for broke in the music video, non-stop excitement area. Run Lola Run is as close to non-stop excitement as a movie as ever before dared to go. Maybe this is because it’s German, definitely because it’s European.

Lola begins with questions. Who are we? Where do we come from? Boring Boring, stereotypical foreign film questions. But from there, with the help of a soccer ball, the movie takes an inexplicable leap into the mouth of a cuckoo clock. Techno music blaring (as it is for most of the movie) we are introduced to all the characters. We meet Lola, a fiery red-headed teen on a quest to save her boyfriend Manni’s skin. She has twenty minutes to find him 100,000 marks (German currency) or he is kaput. Why? Because Manni left a bag filled with cash on the subway and owes it to the most dangerous man in town. Plot is needless but actually interesting. We care about these two people. Even though they are drug dealers (or so we assume Manni is) they are immensely likable.

But Lola is no ordinary girl. She has the power to stop time and go back and start all over again until she gets it right. Since she only has 20 minutes to save Manni, problems can arise. They do. Sometimes Lola overcomes them, or uses them to her advantage. Other times they are too great and she must start the clock all over again.

I supposed there is a message about how little things can change the rest of your life. Almost a German, Action-Comedy, Music Video version of Sliding Doors. But I doubt Gwenyth Paltrow can run half as fast as Lola.

Run Lola Run is unlike any film. It has impressive editing, witty dialogue, and even animated segments. It’s exciting to watch, and exciting to remember as well. If your kids can read subtitles (quickly) take them to Run Lola Run. No summer blockbuster will give them half as much entertainment. This is the most entertaining movie of the year, so far, and probably will remain so.

Run, don’t walk, to Run Lola Run!

	Running Time: 81 Min \| Rated R \| US Release: June 18th \| More >>

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