'Klown': A raunchy comedy with a sweet side

From a plot description of "Klown," a Danish comedy that includes not only a lot of talk about the size of a 12-year-old character's penis but also the photographing of it, you'd think the film was borderline child pornography. But it's actually rather sweet, in its raunchy way.

Frank (Frank Hvam) and Casper (Casper Christensen) are about to embark on a "man-cation" they hope will involve lots of sex and debauchery when Frank learns that his girlfriend is pregnant and develops a sudden need to prove that he'd be a good father. So he brings her 12-year-old nephew (Marcuz Jess Petersen, perfectly cast) along on the trip, and what follows is equal parts male bonding and corruption of a minor.

The film, directed by Mikkel Nørgaard, somehow manages the difficult trick of going into taboo territory without feeling dirty. And Hvam has a knack for misdirection. Just when you're wanting to give his character a hug and forgive all, off he goes into even more inappropriate behavior.

The film has elements of "The Hangover" movies, including pivotal use of a cellphone camera, but it feels gentler, despite those child- pornography overtones.

By Neil Genzlinger The New York Times

By Neil Genzlinger
The New York Times