‘Men and Chicken’ finding cult success in the US

Slapstick-heavy story starring Mads Mikkelsen hailed as a modern day ‘Hamlet’

David McQuilling

Danish black comedy ‘Men & Chicken’ (‘Mænd og Høns’) is establishing itself as a cult success overseas 15 months after its Danish release.

Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen and starring Mads Mikkelsen, the film is the slapstick-heavy story of two brothers on a mission to find their biological father.

‘Men & Chicken’, which premiered on 5 February 2015, has been shown at various international film festivals over the past year.

After a limited release in the US on April 22, ‘Men & Chicken’ received positive reviews from several prominent critics.

Compared to Hamlet
The film has been compared to Hamlet, called a “vehicle of amusing off-kilter inappropriateness” (filmjournal.com) and described as “an inspired thematic hybrid of Kafkaesque alienation and Farrelly brothers farce, with a healthy grafting of Tod Browning’s ‘Freaks’” (LA Times).

However, the reception has not been entirely positive. Both the New York Times and Washington Post were less than favourable with their reviews.

Drafthouse Films acquired the US distribution rights for ‘Men & Chicken’ after its North American premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2015.

‘Men & Chicken’ currently holds a 67 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

 

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs