Dick Maas brings his favorite dysfunctional family back for one last adventure back in their home of Zonnedael.
The upper class community of Zonnedael is preparing for their biggest event yet, the 25th Anniversary of the community’s inception. A grand celebration is in store for the people of Zonnedael. However, the committee, led by Ruud van Brandwijk, are concerned with one tiny issue. That issue is none other than the Flodder family, who have had their house rebuilt after their misadventure in New York City.
With the intent to drive the Flodders out of Zonnedael, van Brandwijk uses any means necessary to ensure that the Flodders will break the rules ordained by the City Council per the original agreement. However, when two attempts totally fail, van Brandwijk goes to great lengths by having the one-time jailbird father of daughter Kees arrive, only to be rebuffed by Ma Flodder, who has fallen in love with a local hobo she met. However, one the day of their wedding, secrets are revealed and a case of accidental betrayal may be the thing that could finally drive the Flodders out of Zonnedael once and for all.
After the success of two films from Dick Maas, the family Flodder proved to be such a hit despite its controversial theme of dysfunction amongst high society that Maas was given the go to turn the movies into a TV series beginning in 1993. However, it is notable and obvious that Huub Stapel and Rene van’t Hof would not be returning to their signature roles of Johnnie and son Kees for the series. This resulted in a change in casting which included Coen van Vrijberghe de Coningh (try saying that name five times) as Johnnie and Stefan de Walle as Kees. While Stapel’s flirtatious Johnnie is clearly gone, Vrijberghe de Coningh makes the role of Johnnie his own as a fast-talking hustler while Kees shows a bit of intellect while still acting quite goofy.
This final film installment is a mix of three plots originally meant for the third season of the series. While it may seem a bit confusing at first, Maas and co-writer Wijo Koek somehow make the three plots interconnect quite well. The central plot involves the obsessive van Brandwijk trying to get rid of the Flodders once and for all with subplots being Ma Flodder, reprised by the only one who owns the role Nelly Frijda, finding love with a local hobo and the possibility of the Flodders losing their house due to a mishap and accidental act of betrayal when the family’s longtime ally, Sjakie (played with a bit less comic relief this time around by Lou Landre), falls for a new worker only to learn a secret about her.
What is also quite confusing in the film is the return of Grandpa Flodder, now played by Herman Passchier. Considering the events of the first film, it is apparent that there is no continuity between the films and is set more to the television universe. Once again, there are some highlight stunt sequences that help the film, including a car chase between Kees and Johnny and the police; an all-out rumble between police and the Flodders with their friends over the house; and a literally exploding climax that not only will make your jaw drop but the result will make you say three little words and they start with “what the”.
As a result of the ratings of the third season and how well this film did, the series kept on until 1997, when tragedy struck. During a party celebrating the series, van Vrijberghe de Coningh suffered an unexpected heart attack and passed away at the age of 47, thus ending the reign of the Flodder family.
Flodder 3 is truly a fitting end to the trilogy featuring the Dutch family that melds the Clampetts, the Griswolds, and the Bundys. The literal explosive ending is just mind-blowing but once the smoke clears you may find yourself in shock and in a funny manner as well.
WFG RATING: B
First Floor Features presents a Flodder TV B.V. production. Director: Dick Maas. Producers: Laurens Geels and Dick Maas. Writers: Dick Maas and Wijo Koek. Cinematography: Philip Hering. Editing: Hans van Dongen.
Cast: Nelly Frijda, Coen van Vrijberghe de Coningh, Stefan de Walle, Tatjana Simic, Lou Landre, Scarlett Heuer, Sander Swart, Herman Passchier, Hugo Metsers, Alfred van den Heuvel, Marloes van der Heuvel, Caya de Groot, Bert Andre, Lettie Oosthoek.
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