Queer Review: Patrik, Age 1.5 (2008)

Patrik, Age 1.5
Director: Ella Lemhagen
Writer: Ella Lemhagen. Based upon a play by Michael Druker.
Cast: Gustaf Skarsgård, Torkel Petersson, Tom Ljungman, Amanda Davin, Annika Hallin

(note: as previously promised, this is a properly formatted review, but due to the fact that I have not had a chance to transfer files from my old computer there is one difference viewers may notice from previous reviews)

Overview
Patrik, Age 1.5 is unfortunately a contrived melodrama about a couple whose attempts to adopt go terribly awry. In short, mediocrity, thy name is Patrik, Age 1.5.

Synopsis
Göran (Gustaf Skarsgård) and Sven (Torkel Petersson) are your proverbial "normal" couple who desperately want to adopt a child. When the opportunity arieses, they jump on it, thinking that they are adopting a child who is 1.5 years old. Unfortunately, the letter they were sent contained a typo and a surly 15 year old named Patrik Eriksson (Tom Ljungman). Worse, Patrik is extremely homophobic and has a record of criminal violence.

The Queering
Some movies are truly bad and some are simply mediocre. Patrik, Age 1.5 falls into the latter category rather than the former. The blandness and stale taste keep on piling on top of each other until some semblance of a middle sized morass of a cake come forth. I cannot think of too many element that was exactly mishandled or poorly done, but neither can I think of anything that stood out.

There is a huge problem though with the number of contrivances and unnecessary plot complications that keep coming up. I cannot think of any reason why an adoption agency would drop a minor off on the doorstep of the adoption parents and not bother to walk the kid to the door. Seriously?

There is one salient point that the film makes that I did appreciate. Namely that countries that have legalized same sex marriage and allow adoption for queer couples still have to deal with homophobia. Sweeden, where Patrik, Age 1.5 was made and set, has legalized same sex marriage and gay adoption but our intrepid couple still have to deal with homophobic neighbors and the social services agent they work with tells them to their face that they are the agencies last choice for allowing to adopt. I do not want to politicize this review too much, but this is something that those who relentlessly push for marriage equality should consider.

Recommendation
If you can see pass the melodrama and contrivances, Patrik, Age 1.5 may be tolerable. Everybody else will have a more enjoyable time trying to spot typos and misplaced punctuation on their tax documents.

The Rating
2.5 out 4 stars.

Trailer



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