Alla tiders Karlsson: A Dusty Road Trip That Never Quite Finds Fifth Gear

Should you watch this?

If you have a very specific craving for mid-40s Swedish revue culture, you might find something to love here. Everyone else? You’ll probably find yourself checking your watch before the first musical number ends. It is light, it is breezy, and it is entirely forgettable.

The whole thing centers on Åke, who is singing his way across the country. Then there is his uncle Karlsson, who starts driving the bus. That is pretty much the entire plot. It feels less like a movie and more like an excuse to put a bunch of stage performers in front of a camera.

I found myself wondering if anyone actually cared about the story. There are moments where it feels like they just stopped the bus so someone could tell a joke or sing a song. It reminded me a bit of the aimless energy in Among Those Present, but with more luggage.

Oddly specific observations:

• The bus scenes have this weird, static quality. You can tell they aren't actually moving half the time.
• The way characters just pop in and out of the frame makes the whole thing feel like a stage play that got lost on its way to the theater.
• There is a scene with a hat that goes on for way too long. I’m still not sure what the point was.
• The lighting in the hotel lobby scenes is surprisingly moody, which felt totally out of place for such a silly movie.

There is a lot of frantic energy here, but not much substance. It lacks the sharp, polished wit you see in later comedies. Sometimes it tries to be a bit like The Reporter with its fast-talking, but it just ends up feeling breathless.

I caught myself getting distracted by the background extras. There is one guy in a scarf who just wanders through the background of three different scenes. He looked more confused than the audience probably was.

Is it a bad film? Not really. It’s just... there. It exists. It serves as a reminder that not every movie needs to be a masterpiece. Sometimes, you just need a bus, a singer, and an uncle who can steer.

Don't go looking for deep themes or life-changing messages. This is 100% fluff. The kind of fluff that drifts around the floor of an old theater. Watch it for the costumes, maybe. Or don't. You really won't miss much either way. 🚌💨