A case among village problems
The local grilled-fish king is found dead on the new golf course. For Franz Eberhofer, that is only one problem among several: Susi’s mayoral campaign, family chaos and Rudi’s personal crisis also demand attention.
Investigations taking a back seat have long been part of this series. Steckerlfischfiasko works mainly as a comedy about people who obstruct one another while remaining dependent on each other.
Franz and Rudi carry it
Sebastian Bezzel combines inertia, stubbornness and dry timing. Simon Schwarz receives more room as Rudi, whose life in a car becomes an absurd mixture of social decline and professed resistance to consumerism. Something human survives beneath the coarse humour.
Lisa Maria Potthoff’s Susi brings movement to the village through her campaign. Change is supposed to happen, but almost nobody wants to change personally. That contradiction produces the strongest comedy.
Familiarity brings baggage
The experienced ensemble and deliberately unglamorous images of Lower Bavaria give the comedy its own identity. Paul’s ballet lessons also work because the adults, rather than the child, become the joke.
Ten films nevertheless bring baggage. Some supporting characters appear mainly so fans can see them again. The crime story could have generated more suspense from the fairground clans and golf-course setting, but it mostly ticks along in the background.
Verdict
Steckerlfischfiasko does not reinvent the series. The investigation is thin, surprises are rare and some appearances feel obligatory. Franz, Rudi and Susi nevertheless keep the provincial circus alive. Its combination of grumbling, chaos and warmth still works for me: 7 out of 10.