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The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Swedish Forrest Gump + caper comedy has violence, language.
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The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared
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What's the Story?
In THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPPEARED, the man in question is Allan (Robert Gustafsson), recently forced to move into an old-folks home and not too happy about it. He's always loved blowing things up, so when he hears a bunch of small explosions nearby, he sets out to investigate. Going whichever way the wind takes him, he eventually finds himself in the countryside with three new friends, an elephant, and a suitcase full of money. Hot on his heels are the not terribly interested police inspector called in to find him and the desperately interested biker gang who want that money. Each new step along the way brings back memories for Allan, and we see his remarkable life as he makes his way through some of the 20th century's most important historical events. Will Allan and his friends get to keep the money? Will Allan end up back in the home?
Is It Any Good?
A talented cast, a tight script with genuine laughs, and an easygoing tone held throughout this movie make it enjoyable viewing for mature teens and up who can handle the violence and language. The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared is an odd combination of Forrest Gump and caper comedy, but it works. There's no Hollywood bloat here, and the movie never tries to be overly dramatic or poignant. Instead it breezes along at a nice pace, with flashbacks woven skillfully into the story with narration so that it's never confusing or hard to follow.
The sharp contrast of the light, comedic tone with some of the violence adds to the shock value and sometimes feels out of place. But viewers will quickly find themselves rooting for Allan and his new friends, including Sonja the elephant. Definitely not a family movie, but parents and older teens who are foreign-movie buffs can enjoy this one together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. Is it realistic? Is it needed to tell the story?
What about the strong language? Is it realistic? Which characters use it, and which don't? Does that tell you anything about them?
The movie shows a lot of drinking. Is the drinking glamorized? Is it a big deal?
Movie Details
- In theaters: May 28, 2014
- On DVD or streaming: August 18, 2015
- Cast: Robert Gustafsson , Mia Skaringer
- Director: Felix Herngren
- Studio: Music Box Films
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Adventures , Friendship , History
- Run time: 114 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: Language and some violence
- Last updated: June 20, 2023
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