A bank robber released from jail must unlock his traumatised brother’s memory to recover stolen loot.

‘The Last Viking’ is a Danish black comedy written and directed by Anders Thomas Jensen about a bank robber who, upon his release from a 15-year prison sentence, needs the help of his brother to recover the proceeds of a heist that were buried before his arrest. It stars Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Mads Mikkelsen as brothers Anker and Manfred, who are both deeply affected by a traumatic childhood in very different ways. When Anker gets out of prison, he discovers that Manfred has developed dissociative identity disorder (DID) and now believes himself to be John Lennon. More importantly from Anker’s perspective, it means he’s forgotten where the money is hidden. That wonderfully daft premise only gets stranger as Anker and psychiatrist Lothar (Lars Brygmann) devise an increasingly absurd plan involving other psychiatric patients who believe they are members of The Beatles.

Despite sounding completely ridiculous on paper, ‘The Last Viking’ makes it work. Jensen has a knack for balancing deadpan humour with genuine warmth, and while the film regularly veers into cartoonish violence and increasingly bizarre situations, it never feels like it’s simply chasing random laughs. Beneath the offbeat comedy is a surprisingly sincere story about two damaged brothers trying, in their own dysfunctional way, to reconnect after years apart. The performances are a huge part of why the film works. Mads Mikkelsen is as watchable as ever, fully committing to the film’s peculiar tone, while Nikolaj Lie Kaas gives Anker just enough exasperation and vulnerability to stop him becoming a straight man. They’re supported by a terrific ensemble, including Sofie Gråbøl, Søren Malling and Lars Brygmann, all of whom understand exactly the kind of dry, understated comedy the film is aiming for.

I had a blast with ‘The Last Viking’. It’s undoubtedly daft, but daft in the best possible way, embracing its bizarre premise without ever losing sight of the characters at its centre. The chemistry between Lie Kaas and Mikkelsen anchors even the most outlandish moments, making for a film that is consistently funny, unexpectedly heartfelt and unlike much else I’ve seen this year.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Anders Thomas Jensen

Starring: Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Mads Mikkelsen, Sofie Gråbøl, Søren Malling, Bodil Jørgensen, Lars Brygmann, Kardo Razzazi, Nicolas Bro, Peter Düring, Lars Ranthe and Anette Støvelbæk

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt27817389/