AllMovie

Three friends decide they're going to become famous whatever the cost in this wildly eccentric dark comedy from filmmakers Marcus Mittermeier and Jan Henrik Stahlberg. Johannes (Jan Henrik Stahlberg), Mattias (Marcus Mittermeier) and Christian (Christoph Kottenkamp) have been close friends since they were kids, and together they've long shared a dream of becoming rich and famous in the United States. However, as they edge into their thirties none of the guys are having much luck moving on from their dull hometown and even duller jobs. Deciding decisive action must be taken, Johannes changes his name to John D. Salinger and persuades Mattias and Christian to join him as he travels to the United States and tries to jump-start a show biz career by telling folks they're the Berlin Brothers, who've enjoyed great successful as pop group in Europe. Few of the Americans who meet the three Germans believe they were ever singing stars anywhere (Johannes's inability to carry a tune doesn't help), and as the Berlin Brothers scam goes down the drain, Johannes hatches an even more desperate plan that could force the friends to pay the ultimate price for stardom. Short Cut To Hollywood was an official selection at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.