Film

Undercover

Name: Undercover
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2016
Cast: Linda P, Casper Crump, Roland Møller, Anders Baasmo Christiansen, Paprika Steen

Other titles called Undercover: the 2019 series (VRT 1).

Comedy
Crime
Light-hearted

A Danish comedy about incompetent undercover cop Muhammed tasked with protecting a witness before Christmas—except he's small, lovestruck, and monumentally unqualified. Think Melissa McCarthy energy meets Scandinavian chaos: crude, warm-hearted, and gloriously unpolished. For anyone who loves comedy that doesn't take itself seriously.

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you enjoy broad, physical comedy about competent people failing at a job, with a Christmas-season mood and a lead who commits fully to the mess.

Skip it if you want sharp, dry wit or a slow-burning crime plot; this is louder, sillier and more eager to please than it needs to be.

What it asks of you: Ninety-five minutes, light on its feet, with the Christmas setting doing much of the work; you can give it an evening without much concentration.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Free Fire2017

Ben Wheatley's bullet-spraying farce proves chaos in a single location can be hilarious. Characters constantly outthink themselves, creating a perfect match for Muhammed's bumbling energy and the absurdist violence here.

But It's extremely violent and genuinely mean-spirited at times. The humour comes from people suffering, which lands differently than slapstick incompetence.

Observe and Report2009

Seth Rogen as an unstable security guard protecting the mall—delusional, inappropriate, and somehow endearing. Same DNA as Muhammed: a disaster masquerading as authority, comedy built on cringe and heart.

But It's genuinely uncomfortable and verges on sympathizing with someone doing terrible things. Darker than Undercover by design.

Johnny English Reborn2011

Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling spy is the direct spiritual ancestor of this film. Pure slapstick wrapped around an actual plot, played with complete commitment and zero dignity.

But It's very broad and relies heavily on physical comedy. If you find that dated, this won't convince you otherwise.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Undercover

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Hunt2012

Both center on provincial Danish life and police/authority failure, but Hunt asks what happens when the system destroys an innocent person rather than just bumbling harmlessly.

Mads Mikkelsen as a man destroyed by false accusation in a small Danish community. Utterly serious, morally complex, and gut-wrenching. The best way to see what Danish cinema can do when it's not laughing.

But It's bleak and tragic. There's barely a smile in it. Watching this after Undercover might feel like a punishment for laughing.

Game Night2018

Mystery-comedy with genuine stakes and a cast clearly having fun. Plot complications keep piling on like Muhammed's mounting disasters, with the same blend of forced proximity and escalating absurdity.

But The humour sometimes relies on knowing references. It's smarter than Undercover, which might feel like a step sideways rather than forward.

In Good Company2004

Danish noir-comedy about a criminal kingpin. It has the same rough, character-driven humour and the Copenhagen setting, proving Scandinavian crime comedies have a particular flavor worth exploring.

But It's more deadpan and less farcical. If you're after the chaos, this one's too cool for school.

The Other Guys2010

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg as mismatched cops, with genuine plot momentum underneath the absurdity. It knows when to shift from comedy to actual stakes, which Undercover attempts too.

But It's glossy Hollywood and ninety minutes into full plot-servicing by the end. Less heart, more formula.

Ride Along2014

Kevin Hart as a civilian riding with Ice Cube, built on the same buddy comedy DNA: incompetence meets competence, enthusiasm meets annoyance, and a genuine emotional core underneath.

But It's relentlessly upbeat and fairly conventional. You'll know exactly where it's going halfway through.

Central Intelligence2016

Released the same year, also built on mismatched partners and pure charisma. Ryan Reynolds and Dwayne Johnson carry it through plot holes with genuine warmth and commitment to the bit.

But It's bigger and glossier than Undercover. The scrappiness you might love here is sanded smooth.

Let's Go to Prison2006

A genuine cult comedy about an ex-con and a sheltered criminal taking a road trip. Aggressively stupid, crude, and full of heart—finds humor in incompetence with real affection for its characters.

But It's genuinely obscure and somewhat dated. The plot barely exists, which can feel frustratingly thin.

Wild Tales2014

Both find comedy in systems failing and people responding in disastrous ways, but this one asks what happens when incompetence meets actual stakes rather than Christmas deadlines.

Argentine anthology of ordinary people pushed to extraordinary violence. Wickedly funny escalations where each act goes further. Same anarchic energy as Undercover but amoral and genuinely vicious—what if the bumbling had consequences?

But It's pitch-black satire with real brutality. The humor comes from watching good people become monsters, which is the opposite of Muhammed's warmth.