Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Derrick - Die Pflicht ruft!" is a German animated movie from 2004, so two more years only until this one has its 15th anniversary. The key name in the relatively long list of directors and writers is Michael Schaack and he has worked on the Werner films (that I like), the Kleines Arschloch films (that I don't like) and some other stuff that German film buffs or animation buffs may have come across already. So I was not really sure what to expect here. I have never been big on Derrick, but that's just because I have never seen it. The fact that Tappert and Wepper, long after the end of Derrick, agreed to voice their animated selves sure was a statement. But after having watched this film, I genuinely wonder why because this was really extremely trashy from start to finish and on many occasions not in a good way. Sure not all jokes can be winners, but was a pretty low percentage I'd say. It is a relatively short film, stays under the 80-minute mark if we aren't counting the credits. I am also a bit surprised to see Wöhler on board here, as for Morgenstern and especially Drews not so much. Derrick is known to be a character and show that has very little to do with comedy, very sterile and bleak, so it is safe to say that making an animated comedy about him and Harry was an even bigger challenge than lets say a Munster Tatort for example. The main antagonist is basically a young Dieter Bohlen lookalike and that's fitting too because Schaack's next work 2 years after this one here centered indeed on the blonde half of Modern Talking. There's even DSDS references in here, but many other references too, like about Schimanski for example. Anyway, the hidden references about society and pop culture, like the irreplaceable boy-group that gets constantly replaced were still among the better aspects. I also somehow like the animation style, but that's extremely subjective though. Still for every solid joke, there 2 or 3 pretty weak ones like the one with the cat going up in the air. All in all, the film has its moments here and there, but overall it simply wasn't enough to let me recommend this one. Also the crime story and the plot (if there even is one) were extremely absurd and week, but like I said the comedy wasn't good enough in terms of quality to make up for these deficits. I give it a thumbs-down and suggest you watch something else instead.
andre-71
The best thing in this animation was Derrick himself. The bureaucratic coolness (or lack of humour) in his voice actually was the funniest part of all. The rest of the film was made up of childish and very predictable (thus non-funny) jokes. The story seemed to be made for a pre-teen audience and thereby failed to address those who still know the real Derrick and Harry Klein. Further, the constant repetition of the same jokes, in particular the denunciation of modern show business, got annoying and attested a lack of real ideas. Besides the poor contents, the quality of the drawings was merely mediocre. Again only Derrick stood out for a slightly more felicitous portraiture. I recommend to wait for the TV release.
