Kaikenlaisia vieraita: A dusty comedy that mostly relies on doors opening and closing

So, is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for black-and-white comedies where people are constantly ducking behind furniture, you might enjoy Kaikenlaisia vieraita. It’s got that specific, frantic energy of an old stage play forced into a movie frame. But if you’re looking for something that moves with modern pacing, you are probably going to hate it. It moves at the speed of a polite conversation in a drawing room.

The premise is simple enough. The nephew is a total spendthrift, which is a nice way of saying he’s a loser. He turns his aunt’s manor into a boarding house because he needs cash, or maybe he just likes the noise. It reminds me a bit of the chaos in Horse Play, but with more velvet and fewer horses. The moment the aunt actually shows up, the movie turns into a game of musical chairs.

The house feels like a character itself

There is this one shot where the camera just lingers on a hallway, and you can see a door creak open in the background. Nobody is looking at it. It’s clearly a mistake or just a weird draft, but it made me laugh more than the actual jokes. The house is crowded, messy, and feels lived-in in a way that most sets don't. It’s not as polished as The Tender Hour, but it has heart.

The performances are... well, they are very loud. Everyone is acting like they are projecting to the back row of a theater. Sometimes it works! Sometimes it’s just exhausting. Aku Korhonen is in here, and he’s doing that thing he does where he looks like he’s perpetually annoyed by gravity itself. I liked him.

• The nephew’s constant sweating is a highlight.
• The dining room scene goes on for about three minutes too long.
• I’m pretty sure one of the extras is just reading a newspaper upside down.

It’s not trying to change the world. It’s just trying to get a chuckle out of you before the aunt catches everyone in their lies. Honestly, watching these people scramble around is kind of comforting. It’s not as gritty as The Wrecker, obviously, but it doesn't need to be. Sometimes a movie just needs to be a nice, messy house party that goes wrong. 🥂

Don't look for deep meaning here. You won't find it. Just watch the doors swing and wait for the inevitable reveal. It’s fine. It’s perfectly fine.