Mein Lotta-Leben 2 Alles Tschaka mit Alpaka
***
Germany 2022 Opened Aug . 18 , 2022 95 minutes
© Wild Bunch Germany
The second film adaptation of the beloved Mein Lotta Leben children ’ s book series , Alles Tschaka mit Alpaka , is a fun movie for the whole family to enjoy and sure to be a favorite of preteens throughout Germany . Lotta ( Meggy Hussong ) and her friends Cheyenne ( Yola Streese ) and Paul ( Levi Kazmaier ), the self-titled Wilde Kaninchen gang , are off on their first class trip to the German coast , but there ’ s no way this will be a carefree week at the beach .
From the get-go , the trip seems doomed . Lotta ’ s papa , Reiner Petermann ( Oliver Mommsen ), must come along as a last-minute chaperone . As if that isn ’ t embarrassing enough , Remí ( Timothy Scannell ), a brand-new student joining the class from France , is head-over-heels in love with Lotta . Though she wants little to do with him , he follows her around in a lovesick trance everywhere she goes . Adding to the drama is the rumored ghost of a missing camper walking the halls at night ( or perhaps those are just the alpacas / llamas ) and the actual
Directed by : Martina Plura Writing credits : Bettina Börgerding , Daniela Kohl , Alice Pantermüller Principal actors : Meggy Hussong , Yola Streese , Timothy Scannell , Levi Kazmaier , Oliver Mommsen
disappearance of Cheyenne ’ s little sister , Channell ( Cara Vondey ). All of this plays out against the backdrop of a class filled with young teens entrenched in their cliques — everything from the black-leather-clad rockers to the high-fashionista glam girls are represented — and their unnervingly severe teacher , Frau Kackert ( Sarah Hostettler ), threatening to break up the class for good unless everyone achieves some real bonding .
I had the opportunity to watch this film with my 10-year-old daughter , a mega-Lotta fan and this movie ’ s target audience . We both found the film quite funny at times — though usually for different reasons and to varying degrees . Most notable to me was how it dealt with the subject of puberty and hormones in a sweet and hilarious way that is equally accessible to preteens and their parents . My daughter found the spooky elements surrounding the missing student from years past and the current disappearance of Chanell to be a wholly engrossing
Der Nachname continued from Page 33
© Constantin Film
controversies , such as Elizabeth ’ s possibly having had a secret affair , the arranging for a surrogate mother to provide a child for Dorothee and René , Stephan ’ s true profession , the mortgage on the family ’ s summer house , inheritances , and money . I definitely recommend seeing Der Nachname , which is much fun but has difficulty outperforming its predecessor . ( Becky Tan )
departure from the books that added an unexpected element of suspense . I think these added story-lines ( the film is based on books seven and eight from the series ) will captivate a young audience , particularly those already invested in the series and eager for new adventures from the Wilde Kaninchen gang . ( Adelina Gonzales )
34 The Clubs within Our Club