Amazingly the first full-scale feature set in the world of speed dating, Shoppen (Shopping) is a frisky, beautifully played and written comedy that just goes with its oddball characters rather than trying to draw social messages from its subjects. The first feature by Munich-born writer-director Ralf Westhoff, a former journalist, is ready-made for audiences who appreciate good dialogue and lively character comedy.

The opening reel introduces some of the characters, and the final half-hour follows up on the results of some of the encounters. But the heart of the movie is its central section, in which eight men and eight women take part in a speed-dating session. Rules of the game, supervised by a guy with a large clock, dictate that everyone moves along to a new partner every five minutes. Participants are all from Munich and the setting is a plain white hall, with no distractions. It’s a neat idea that’s well sustained by Westhoff’s efficient direction.—Derek Elley, Variety.