They probably won’t be friends anymore, even in old age. Despite the loudly expressed antipathy, fate does not want to separate the “MA 2412” officials – the deliberately casual Michael “Mike” Weber (Alfred Dorfer) and the buttoned-up model maker Engelbert Breitfuss (Roland Düringer) – from each other. This is how the paths of the early retired epitomes of refusal to work “On Rehab” and “In the Movies” cross. They return little changed on December 18th with two specials on ORF1.
Sicherheitz is directing again
Dorfer, Düringer and Harald Sicherheititz, who is responsible for directing as in the original, have already announced that the protagonists of the series now entitled “Weber & Breitfuss” will not experience a complete makeover. Weber’s clumsy, direct and therefore unsuccessful flirting also belongs to the “MA 2412” brand.
The actors have gotten older: while Breitfuss’ toupee still doesn’t fit well, Weber still finds himself “so beautiful” in an 80s tracksuit and gray mullet.
However, his situation in the rehabilitation center of the first special only remains nice until you notice on the executive floor that the official who was formerly responsible for the Viennese Christmas decorations does not have as much money as he claims. In a commentary on the two-class medicine, Weber is handed over by a pretty employee (Nina Proll) to her simple, austere counterpart (also Nina Proll) and becomes – how could it be otherwise – his former colleague’s roommate. Actors are also recycled away from Proll: the cast, which takes on different roles in each film, includes Julia Edtmeier, Andrea Händler and Monica Weinzettl (“Frau Knackal”), who regularly vaguely reminds the protagonists of someone.
If you compare the two films, “Auf Reha”, which is a bit too controversial and finally breaks off abruptly, in which the motives of inmates and operators have to be fathomed, lags behind in terms of story and humor. As a vampire or zombie, Weber and Breitfuss unexpectedly meet again “In the film”, funny costumes, more or less competent special effects employees and a Mr. Claus substitute – instead of Santa Claus at the office there is a real Dracula on the film set -, do the rest.
Fans of the series that was discontinued in 2002 will revel in “Weber & Breitfuss”, and one or the other new fan will probably join them. A sweet highlight is the end: because when you get scared, even passionate enemies hold hands.