Petticoat Government: A Snowy, Old-Fashioned Headache

Is it worth the watch?

Look, if you have a deep, inexplicable love for mid-century German comedies that rely entirely on the premise that “women and men are different,” you might get a kick out of this. Otherwise, probably not. It’s a loud, dusty affair that feels like watching a stage play through a keyhole.

Who will hate it? Anyone who prefers their humor with a bit of bite or actual character development. It feels like a relic from a time when everyone was just shouting for the sake of it. 🏔️

The whole thing kicks off in a snowy brewery. There is a lot of stomping around in boots. The plot is basically just people being grumpy at each other because the brewery is being run by women. It’s treated like this massive, earth-shattering scandal, which is honestly kind of funny in a sad way.

Odd little moments

There’s a specific scene where someone tries to look authoritative while holding a beer mug, and it goes on for, I swear, an entire minute too long. The silence in the room just hangs there, and you can tell the actors are waiting for a cue that feels like it’s never going to come.

• The snow looks surprisingly fake, like someone dumped a bag of flour on the set.
• The dialogue is mostly just people yelling over one another.
• The lighting in the brewery scenes is weirdly yellow, making everyone look a bit like they have a cold.

I found myself thinking about The Goat while watching this. Both films rely so heavily on the "physical comedy" of people tripping over their own feet. But where one might find charm in that, here it just feels like the actors are getting tired. You can almost see them checking their watches behind the camera.

The "moral" they try to hammer in at the end is about as subtle as a sledgehammer to the shin. It’s all very, "Oh, we need both genders to make a society work!" It’s not exactly a revelation. It feels like a lecture you didn't ask for from someone who has had one too many beers.

Is it better than, say, The Song of the Flame? Maybe in terms of pacing, but that’s a low bar. This movie just kind of exists. It’s like a bowl of cold soup. It’s not offensive, but you aren’t exactly rushing back for seconds.

I caught a glimpse of an extra in the background of the main square scene who clearly had no idea what to do with his hands. He just kind of stood there, shuffling from left to right, waiting for the director to call cut. I spent more time watching him than the actual lead actors. That’s usually not a great sign. 🤷‍♂️

If you really need a distraction on a rainy afternoon, maybe put this on while you fold laundry. Just don’t expect to remember much of it by dinner time.