Lisa Vicari
Isi
Overview
Isi and Ossi couldn't be any more different: She's a billionaire's daughter from Heidelberg, he's a struggling boxer from the nearby town of Mannheim. But when Isi meets Ossi, the two quickly realize that they can take advantage of one another: She dates the broke boxer to provoke her parents and get them to fund a long-desired chef training in New York. He tries to rip off the rich daughter to finance his first professional boxing match. Their plans soon develop into emotional chaos that challenges everything the two believe to know about money, career and love.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readLove as a Class Act
I’ve seen this trick before—the billionaire’s daughter slumming it with the working-class guy, the fake relationship that turns real, the parents who just don’t understand. It’s the rom-com equivalent of a well-worn path through the woods: you know every root and rock, but the light still filters through the leaves in a way that makes you pause. Isi & Ossi, the 2020 German Netflix original, walks that path with a pair of sneakers that are either stylishly scuffed or just a little too worn, depending on your patience for the genre. What saves it from being another forgettable entry isn’t the plot—it’s the way it lingers on the edges of its own premise, refusing to let the fantasy of upward mobility fully take hold.
The film follows Isi (Lisa Vicari), the daughter of a wealthy Heidelberg family, and Ossi (Dennis Mojen), a struggling boxer from Mannheim, who enter into a fake relationship to manipulate their parents. She wants her parents to fund her culinary dreams in New York; he needs cash to finance his boxing career. It’s a setup that could easily slide into the kind of wish-fulfillment fantasy where love conquers all and class barriers dissolve like sugar in tea.
But Isi & Ossi has the good sense to hesitate. The film doesn’t soften the fact that one character can walk away from failure while the other cannot. That tension—between the escapism of the rom-com and the stubborn reality of class—is what makes the movie more interesting than it has any right to be.
Oliver Kienle, the director and writer, has described the film as a "class-warfare comedy," and that’s not entirely off the mark. The satire here is broad but not toothless. Isi’s parents are caricatures of old-money elitism, all crisp suits and disapproving silence, while Ossi’s world is painted in the grime and grit of Mannheim’s working-class neighborhoods.
The film leans into these stereotypes, but it also undercuts them just enough to keep the satire from feeling like a blunt instrument. There’s a scene early on where Isi, dressed in designer clothes, tries to blend in at a Mannheim dive bar. She fails spectacularly, not because she’s out of place in a way that’s cute or endearing, but because the film lets the awkwardness sit there, unsoftened.
Audience Opinions
Audience 5.6/10
"A lighthearted but uneven romantic comedy with charming leads that struggles to stand out from familiar tropes."
The film’s appeal hinges on the chemistry between Lisa Vicari and Dennis Mojen, whose performances are frequently praised for bringing energy to the story. However, the plot’s reliance on well-worn romantic comedy formulas and a lack of depth in supporting characters leave many viewers feeling underwhelmed, latestnetflix.com maintains, despite its stylish presentation.
What viewers praise
- Strong lead chemistry Lisa Vicari and Dennis Mojen’s on-screen dynamic is widely credited for making the romance feel engaging and believable.
- Lighthearted tone The film’s breezy, feel-good approach is appreciated by those looking for an easygoing romantic comedy.
- Stylish direction Oliver Kienle’s visual style and pacing are noted as highlights, giving the movie a polished look.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The story follows overly familiar romantic comedy tropes, leaving little room for surprises or originality.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles, including family members and friends, are often criticized as shallow or forgettable.
- Mixed pacing Some viewers find the film’s pacing uneven, with slow patches that disrupt the flow of the story.
Recommended for
Romantic comedy fans Lisa Vicari and Dennis Mojen admirers Lighthearted movie nights German indie film enthusiasts Casual Netflix viewers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Isi & Ossi: Netflix’s Rom-Com with a Twist
Netflix’s 2020 German rom-com Isi & Ossi brought together two leads with undeniable chemistry—and a premise that flips the script on class divides. Directed by Oliver Kienle (Bad Banks), the film follows Isi (Lisa Vicari), a wealthy heiress, and Ossi (Dennis Mojen), a struggling boxer, as they fake a relationship for their own gain. But what started as a scheme quickly turns into something real, at least on screen. Behind the scenes, the cast and crew leaned into the film’s playful tone, delivering a mix of humor, heart, and a few viral moments.
A Director’s Vision: Blending Comedy and Drama
Oliver Kienle, known for his work in thrillers and dramatic series 
, took a sharp turn with Isi & Ossi, crafting a story that balances romantic comedy with social commentary. The film’s premise—a rich girl and a working-class guy pretending to date—could’ve easily veered into cliché, but Kienle’s direction kept it fresh. While the evidence doesn’t detail his creative process, his background in high-stakes storytelling suggests a deliberate approach to pacing and character development, ensuring the film’s emotional beats landed alongside its comedic ones.
Lead Chemistry: Vicari and Mojen’s On-Screen Spark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_db1N21Aqbw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMTB67441L4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHriPIpKOZg
The real draw of Isi & Ossi is the dynamic between Lisa Vicari and Dennis Mojen. Their chemistry was palpable enough to spawn multiple interview clips and even a dedicated fan-favorite kiss scene . In Netflix’s behind-the-scenes content, the two leads joked about their characters’ differences, with Vicari describing Isi as "a bit of a princess" and Mojen calling Ossi "a guy who just wants to fight his way through life" . Their playful banter in interviews mirrored the film’s tone, making it clear why their on-screen romance resonated with audiences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZrn6tVZ_VI
The cast also embraced the film’s lighter side. Clips from Netflix’s promotional content show Vicari, Mojen, and the supporting cast (including Walid Al-Atiyat and Zoë Straub) goofing off in a "matching game" segment, swiping through dating profiles and riffing on the rom-com tropes . These moments hint at a relaxed set where the actors leaned into the film’s humor, even if the evidence doesn’t reveal deeper behind-the-scenes drama.
Reception and Rumors: A Mixed but Memorable Debut
Isi & Ossi premiered to mixed reviews, with critics praising its leads and premise but noting its formulaic structure. On SensCritique, the film holds a 5.6/10 rating based on over 900 votes , while Rotten Tomatoes’ audience score (not detailed in the evidence) suggests a more favorable reception . The film’s 113-minute runtime gave it room to explore its characters, though some viewers likely wished for more depth in its social commentary.
Rumors about a potential sequel or spin-off haven’t surfaced in the available evidence, but the film’s Netflix Original status and the leads’ rising profiles (Vicari later starred in Dark, Mojen in How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)) could make it a cult favorite. For now, Isi & Ossi remains a snapshot of 2020’s rom-com landscape—one that prioritized charm over reinvention.
The Verdict: A Fun, If Forgettable, Rom-Com
With its vibrant leads, sharp humor, and a premise that plays with class dynamics, Isi & Ossi delivered exactly what it promised: an entertaining, if slightly predictable, romantic comedy. The behind-the-scenes content—interviews, kiss scenes, and cast games—paints a picture of a production that embraced its fun, lighthearted tone. While it may not have redefined the genre, it gave audiences a breezy escape, and that’s enough for a Netflix Original.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.