Buba – Movie review: Netflix’s “Better Call Saul” cut can’t keep up with “How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)”.

“How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)” by the bildundtonfabrik was a series for a young generation that otherwise avoids German film and series productions. A story about German teenagers in a German suburb, but filled with so much speed and clever ideas that the young people, who are otherwise easily embarrassed, spoke about this series highlight without shame.

However, after three seasons, “HTSDO(F)” was over. Even if the end of the series was never officially confirmed, the story seems to be over and the main actors are now getting too old for their roles. The fictionalized adaptation of the Shinyflakes story has come to an end, but now the story goes on – somehow.

Buba, played by Bjarne Mädel, was Moritz’s drug supplier and main antagonist in season 1, who died in an accident in the season 1 finale. His life story is now being examined in the film “Buba”, although there was hardly any need for clarification in this regard: Buba was an entertaining but dispensable character, and hardly anyone thought about his background.

The emergence can therefore probably be explained by two points. On the one hand, director Arne Feldhusen probably just wanted to work with Bjarne Mädel again, with whom he had already worked in “The Crime Scene Cleaner” and “Stromberg”. Mädel, one of the most popular German actors, should be reason enough for many Netflix subscribers to give “Buba” a chance.

In addition, the idea behind “Buba” is strongly reminiscent of the series “Better Call Saul”, because there, too, a supporting character from a well-known and successful series (“Breaking Bad”) received its own spin-off, in which it was clarified how the character as we got to know them on the series. “Better Call Saul” was first smiled at and later celebrated when the quality of the series “Breaking Bad” was in no way inferior.

The plans for Buba are less ambitious, there is no prequel series here, but a nearly 90-minute film that leaves no questions unanswered – no problem when the audience started the film without questions. The problem here, however, is that “Buba” never manages to justify its own existence.

For fans of “How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)” “Buba” is absolutely dispensable, for everyone else too. After a rather brisk beginning, in which we are first reminded of Buba’s death in “HTSDO(F)” and then see his childhood, we are already in the middle of the plot.

Buba recognized early on that his bad luck is closely related to the luck of other people: if he is doing too well, others are doing badly. His parents died in a car accident while Buba was winning a breakdance competition. In order to enable his brother Dante to have a good life, Buba makes sure that things are never too good for him.

As petty criminal adults, Buba and Dante keep their heads above water with petty scams until they get the opportunity to work with the Albanians. However, Buba secretly begins dating his childhood sweetheart, bearing in mind that his happiness could mean Dante’s bad luck – but how can you resist love?

Without Buba’s death scene from “HTSDO(F)” at the beginning and end of the film, “Buba” could have been a completely independent film. Even so, it is not necessary to know the associated series, but at the same time one would be better advised to simply skip “Buba” and start directly with “HTSDO(F)”.

“Buba” thrives on Bjarne Mädel’s charisma, but he alone can’t carry the whole film. The problem is that the characters, whether new or old, are all irrelevant or even unsympathetic. That’s partly intentional, but even Buba’s fate leaves you cold here. To make matters worse, the film’s biggest twist is predictable from the start.

After the current bildundtonfabrik series “King of Stonks” suffered from the fact that its main character simply remained far too uninteresting, “Buba” had significantly more potential thanks to Bjarne Mädel. It’s all the more disappointing that there’s just a lack of fun and creativity here.

Better Call Buba? D rather not!

After the successful conclusion of “How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)”, Netflix could have saved “Buba”. The film prequel lacks relevance, neither the plot nor the humor are convincing. So fans of Bjarne Mädel should watch “The Crime Scene Cleaner” again.

age rating	from 12 years
Duration	94 minutes
release	02 Aug 2022
Post Credit Scene	✘

occupation

• Anita Vulesica

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• Bjarne girl

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• George Frederick

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• Jasmin Shakeri

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• Maren Kroyman

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• Michael Schertenleib

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• Soma Pysall

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