Rent Another Round (2020)

A fortified wine rather than a strong spirit - Another Round review by TE

It's hard to know quite what to make of this flawed but fascinating enquiry into the role of alcohol in our contemporary society. On the one hand we see how damaging excessive drinking can be, leading to death, relationship breakdown and professional disgrace, but on the other hand it is shown as helping a student to pass a crucial exam and providing riotous fun for everyone. Thus the film is pitched at an uncertain space between seriousness and glib commentary.

This ambiguity is summed up in the final frame (I will avoid making a spoiler!).

Perhaps Vinterberg, the director, is trying to reflect society's ambivalent attitude towards alcohol. That's fine, but it makes 'Another Round' a bit of a tease. In the end it seems as if the message is: alcohol is fine and dandy but only if the drinker limits consumption to a fairly small amount.

The performances are good, Mads Mikkelsen especially, but the set-up is far-fetched: would a group of four intelligent, socially integrated school teachers really embark on such a ludicrous binge?

Once that shaky proposition is accepted, the film barrels along enjoyably enough as a dark comedy.

Cheers! - Another Round review by CS

A humorous, touching and extremely well acted exploration of our relationship with alcohol based around school teacher friends who are bored with their jobs and 

decide to apply science to their drinking. No easy moral lessons follow - this is no glib morality tale. 

Profound & Playful Comedy Drama - Another Round review by GI

A playful yet profound comedy drama about mid life crisis and a stunning central performance from Mads Mikkelsen. He plays Martin, one of four school teacher friends who have lost their mojo, have become bored by their job teaching in a high school and with their marriages and relationships all suffering. They embark on an experiment after reading of a theory that humans have a natural alcohol deficiency and need to top it up! They set rules for themselves and begin to benefit from the small amount of drink they have each morning soon feeling energetic and free from anxiety and rediscovering their zest for life. But when they decide to escalate their intake to see what happens the opposite soon manifests itself. Here is a film that takes a sharp look at society's relationship with alcohol from the mediocrity of everyday life to the delights and the buoyancy that social drinking provides and it especially has things to say about young people and drinking. It's a clever and entertaining, indeed at times very funny, film confronting serious issues with a wry and intelligent eye and with first rate performances. Highly recommended.