Fünf Freunde und das Tal der Dinosaurier 
Germany
2018
Opening 15 Mar 2018
Directed by:
Mike Marzuk
Writing credits:
Simon Hauschild, Mike Marzuk
Principal actors:
Marinus Hohmann, Ron Antony Renzenbrink, Amelie Lammers, Allegra Tinnefeld, Jacob Matschenz
Anyone growing up in Germany knows all about the Fünf Freunde or The Famous Five, as they are originally known from over 20 books by British author Enid Blyton, which first came out beginning 1942 and have sold successfully ever since. Now director Mike Marzuk has made his fifth film based on the series; his first one showed in 2012.
Here, we have all new actors in order to keep the story “young.” George (actually Georgina, but as a tom boy, she prefers George, played by Allegra Tinnefeld, Anne (Lammers), Julian (Hohmann), Dick (Renzenbrink) and Timmy the dog are stuck in a car driven by Aunt Anny (Bernadette Heerwagen). Unhappily they are on the road to a boring family event. Luckily, there is a flat tire and they find help in a small town, famous for its Museum of Natural History. They meet up with Marty Bach (Matschenz) who lives in a shack and claims that his deceased father had discovered the complete skeleton of a dinosaur. The five friends sign up for a walking tour in the hopes that it will take them in the right direction to research the supposed site of this dinosaur. But they aren’t the only ones looking for the treasure.
Naturally, the tension rises as others get involved and create interaction on the long hike. There are Carl and Barbara Herzog, Harold Becky Beck, Christa and Walter Kleinhans, Pedro Mendez, and Kurt Weiler (played in this order by Peter Prager, Melika Foroutan, Dirk Borchardt, Dagmar Sachse, David Baalcke, Manuel Cortez, and (my favorite) Milan Peschel). This is a good chance to become acquainted with many German actors and also become familiar with this famous team of youngsters if you didn’t know them already. Enjoy with the whole family and gear up for the next Fünf Freunde, which will surely soon be on its way soon. (Becky Tan)
