Honestly, Netflix loves recycling its content, so when I started watching Off Track, I was a little confused because I was sure the movie would be released in 2022, but there I was, simply having watched the same story, with different faces, in a different language, in 2025. So what gives? you might ask. Well, it turns out the movie I watched was The Wrong Track, a Norwegian remake of the Swedish film Off Track, and now, a couple of months later, we have the second part of the Swedish film. I know, a little confusing, but anyway, I'm here to tell you that this second part never needed to be made.
Now, at the end of Off Track, protagonist Lisa finally got her act together, making it seem like she got the happy ending she deserves. However, 3 years later, in Off Track 2, Lisa finds herself stumbling when she has everything. Not even a sparkly ring or the perfect house are enough to overcome insecurities, and that's what this movie is all about. On the other hand, Daniel and Karla are just as out of step with each other as they were in the first film, which gives the impression that there's no point in resolving their issues, but I guess that's what married life is all about: wanting to divorce your partner every now and then until you find the spark.
Director: Mårten Klingberg
Writers: Maria Karlsson, Christin Magdu, Mårten Klingberg
Stars: Katia Winter, Fredrik Hallgren, Rakel Wärmländer
While Off Track aims to be a heartwarming film about second chances and the effort to move on, even when everything seems unlikely, I found its approach completely disappointing and boring. Right off the bat, a handsome ex enters Lisa's life to ruin things for her when she's finally found her way. And I find this to be the least interesting way to introduce conflict into a film that already lacks substance. Also, I don't know if this is a problem with translated works or if I just don't read Swedish tracks, but I found the physical comedy completely off-putting and unnecessary. Clearly, this story is meant to be a drama, and I think it works a little better on those aspects than on the humor.
On the other hand, Daniel and Klara's story is unsatisfying and difficult to bear because it's almost like a rehash of the first film, so it's as if they've never improved and keep forcing themselves to cling to a relationship that doesn't deserve to be saved. I guess that makes it more realistic than I could have imagined, but it just feels a bit tedious. Their story arc is emblematic of why there was no need for a sequel in the first place. Sometimes we settle for happy endings, but we don't always need a reality check to ruin something good.
The cast is still good; they keep the film alive for the most part, despite the mediocre material they have to work with. Katia Winter is endearing as Lisa and brings a nuanced performance to a rather monochromatic character who never seems to mature. On the other hand, Fredrik Hallgren might be the highlight of both films, as he is stoic yet funny. I quite enjoy the chemistry between the siblings, and we barely see it in the sequel. I think it would have been easier if the two stories had been split into separate films, because at the moment it feels a bit cluttered, yet incomplete at the same time. What I mean is, I found both stories quite disappointing.
While I found the first film to be somewhat original, with a heartwarming story, and the ski race was quite intriguing, this one feels too conventional to be interesting. I understand that some might relate to the film's themes; I don't think it will establish an emotional connection with the audience. This is what deeply disappoints me. If your film is expected to have an emotional impact because it speaks to the power of family and togetherness, that should be reflected in the story, the visuals, the acting, and everything else that goes into making a film. Unfortunately, Off Track 2 didn't convince me.
I guess what I should really say is that this movie goes off track almost from the start and ends up derailing even more as time goes on. When the characters resolve conflicts, it's not because they've been through so much and learned to correct their mistakes, but because of a sense of "I have to fix this." I think this is especially true for Daniel's character, who seems to be pseudo-growing up in both films, never fully understanding what he needs to do to improve for the sake of his family.
For Lisa, it's basically a late-coming story because she's lost and doesn't know how to deal with happiness. The only thing I found truly emotional in the movie is the scene she shares with her father. It's almost silent and very unexpected, but still very touching. But I also found Gunnar's whole storyline to be quite unnecessary, and I understand that it's just there to add a chaotic tone to the whole movie, but it feels very out of place. I can't say I enjoyed this movie because at this point it feels like I hated it. But that's not really it either. I wanted to like it, but I was pretty disappointed, especially since I thought the idea of the first film was pretty fun. That said, I'd give Off Track 2 1.5 out of 5 stars for its poor execution and a half-baked story that doesn't quite hit its mark.
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