Druk [Another Round] (2020)

(On Cable TV, June 2021) Considering my muted-to-hatred reaction to much of Thomas Vinterberg’s filmography, saying that I didn’t dislike Druk is actually high praise of a sort. Of course, as a lifelong non-drinker, the idea of a film revolving around middle-aged men drinking his way through their midlife crises is perplexing. Still, Druk takes us to Copenhagen through a school year in which our protagonist (Mads Mikkelsen) and three friends decide to test the theory that humans are happier in a constant state of mild inebriation. It gets worse when they decide to graduate from constant day drinking to hardcore binge-drinking. No one will be particularly surprised to learn that a Vinterberg “comedy” eventually leads to a firing, two separations and a suicide. Fortunately, the suicide leads the survivors to regain their joie de vivre, somehow glossing over their involvement in driving their friend to the consequences of their alcoholism. But it’s all right: The last few minutes have Mikkelsen dancing up a storm, and the result won an Oscar! But as I said: I didn’t dislike Druk. It’s not always as interesting as it should be, but the immersion in modern-day Denmark is interesting, Mikkelson is rarely less than compelling, and there are a few good touches of humour scattered here and there. But in typical Vinterberg fashion, the pacing is often slack, the refusal to adhere to a clear tone can be maddening, and the result can be messy. Still, it could have been worse: I’ve seen other Vinterberg movies.