After Forever

The sultry love story of Tessa Young (Josephine Langford) and Hardin Scott (Hero Fiennes Tiffin) goes into the fourth round. And as in the previous parts, the two are either copulating, or arguing, separating and reconciling. Yes, they just can not with each other and also not without each other. After Hardin once again goes berserk under the influence of alcohol and even sets fire to a house, Tessa realizes that she must leave him (once again). But after a personal tragedy strikes her, Hardin comes back into her life. But Tessa knows she needs time for herself now to get her life together. A fresh start in New York is supposed to help. But can that succeed at all without Hardin - and will he give her the space she desperately needs.

Movies like "After Forever" are called "Critic proof" in the US - which means that critics like me can write whatever they want, the intended audience still runs to the theater and languishes on the screen, no matter how nasty and dubious what's there may be. That a truly toxic relationship is celebrated here - never mind. That the soundtrack consists of absolutely 08/15 interchangeable pop songs, none of which even remotely sticks in the ear - not important. That just Hero Fiennes Tiffin since four films only one and the same facial expression offers - who cares, he is yet sooooo sweet and vulnerable under his broken shell.

That the fourth film offers exactly the same content as the films before, know the makers themselves. So both Tess and Hardin are allowed to say that they keep going in circles and that it always comes out the same. After all, they are very honest with their audience, whom they present with a very drawn out rant. This is because the book, not really known for its complexity, was split into two parts due to the success of the first films. Yes, there will be a fifth "After" film as well. Author Anna Todd will be pleased. And that brings us to the biggest embarrassment of the fourth part. No, I don't mean the fact that the erotic scenes between Tess and Hardin, for which the series was initially celebrated, are now hard to beat in terms of prudery. Rather, it's the fact that a fictional version of the novel, written by Hardin, is being turned into a literary masterpiece here, for which a veritable bidding war is developing. Given the passages you get to hear from the book, this is hard to beat in terms of embarrassment and ridiculousness.

Any fan of the series is welcome to enjoy this film again. And yes, when I think back to what teen romances I loved in my youth, then there is guaranteed to be one or the other Fremdschäm-Werk among them. Nevertheless, it can and must be criticized when a film throws around such clichés, flat dialogues and uninspired ideas and lacks any form of interesting character development after four parts. Yes, "After Forever" is truly not a good movie. But for all those who already loved parts 1 - 3, a visit to the cinema is a must. And since the film is also made exactly for this audience, it does not matter that I find this machination "absolutely not worth seeing".

An article by Frankfurt-Tipp