Das große Comeback (2011)

Hansi Haller was a successful schlager singer in the 1980s. But now that he only performs in hardware stores and his fame has faded, he is struggling with life. His agents, Swens and Dreher, can’t help him either. The Eifel village of Bad Böhlen is home to the only Hansi Haller fan club. Its members are Erika Plausen and Irene Büggel. Erika’s daughter Heike comes to visit; she has just left her unfaithful boyfriend after he cheated on her. At the private television station TV4, editor Ute Meier-Thiel is supposed to give up her position to the young Marion Ackermann. They need an idea for a new show. When Ute overhears Hansi’s agents in a restaurant, she comes up with a plan: a documentary about “Germany’s least successful schlager singer.” She travels to Bad Böhlen with Hansi. Ute discovers that the men in the village can’t stand Hansi’s music, and she torments the farmers with his songs. Meanwhile, Hansi doesn’t realize that he is slowly falling in love with Heike Plausen. The two share a bathroom and end up arguing over it, but Heike inspires Hansi to write a new song. After another argument, Hansi throws the CD out of the window, but Irene finds it. When Ute is about to pack up after her campaigns against Hansi have failed, he confesses to her that he once worked as a porn actor. Ute now has a new trump card: a scandal. She passes what she knows on to the Bild newspaper. Before a TV talk show, the floor manager confronts Hansi with his past—and Ute’s betrayal. Hansi comes to his senses and then, during the live broadcast, tears his toupee off his head, explaining that all of that was youthful indiscretion and that he is a new man now. Erika and Irene send the song inspired by Heike to a radio station, and it becomes a hit. Hansi makes a comeback, and Ute benefits from it too.