Three very different movie open in South Africa today. I can’t say any of the trio particularly appeal to me but perhaps one will be up your alley.
Mad Buddies:
Sure to break local box office records from today is the latest lowbrow comedy from Leon Schuster. Eschewing candid camera gags for a fictional narrative, the funnyman plays a former anti-poaching operative who is forced to road-trip from Durban to Johannesburg with his sworn enemy (Kenneth Nkosi). Little do they know their bickering misadventures are being filmed by an ambitious TV producer (Tanit Phoenix) for a new reality show.
If you have a more sophisticated sense of humour, stay far away from Mad Buddies, which sticks to the Schuster formula of slapstick gags ad nauseum – typically involving body functions or an accident-prone midget. If, however, you enjoy puerile poop jokes, you’ll probably love the film. Ahem, our very own Gavin gave Mad Buddies 3 and a half stars out of 5.
LOL:
If you’ve ever wanted to watch a movie where Miley Cyrus plays with her cellphone for 97 minutes, here’s your chance! In this comedy coming-of-age tale – based on a successful, award-winning French film – Cyrus plays a high schooler who is so busy living her life and sharing her saucy adventures via social media that a massive communication gap has widened between her and her mother (Demi Moore).
LOL wasn’t screened for critics when it was released in the US back in May. So few people watched it that the film doesn’t even have a Rotten Tomatoes rating. It has however earned itself 1.8 stars out of 10 on the IMDB user review scale. Words like “vapid,” “painful,” “moronic” and “made for TV” have been used to describe the film. Beware.
Goethe!:
Screening at select Ster Kinekor cinemas is this German-language historical romance, also known as Young Goethe in Love. Seriously. Alexander Fehling plays the 18th Century philosopher, poet and politician in his youth. Sent to the sleepy countryside after failing his law exams, Goethe falls for a local beauty, Lotte (Miriam Stein), who is betrothed to another man.
Apparently in the vein of Shakespeare in Love, Goethe! mixes romance, humour and drama to (mostly) satisfying effect. The film is far from deep but offers some lighthearted and charming escapism. Probably not the most realistic portrayal of Goethe though.
Last Updated: June 22, 2012
Theunis Jansen Van Rensburg
June 22, 2012 at 10:48
So basically just crap this weekend… 😀
Pravesh Valab
June 22, 2012 at 11:02
Even crap doesn’t want to be associated with this weeks releases
Gavin Mannion
June 22, 2012 at 11:29
lol definitely not a high brow weekend
Noelle Adams
June 22, 2012 at 11:34
Looks like I’ll finally be getting around to Men in Black III this coming week. Last 2 Fridays have been pretty rubbish:P
Justin Hess
June 22, 2012 at 11:40
I like the look of Goethe, to be honest. There’s something satisfyingly welcoming about a film that doesn’t tire you with explosions and inane screaming. I might not go watch it, but it’s nice knowing that there’s something out there that offers a respite from loud American cack
Gavin Mannion
June 22, 2012 at 11:47
I’d rather give myself a root canal with a rusty spoon that watch some pseudo german crap like that…
But then again I enjoyed watching Mad Buddies for what it was so I don’t think Goethe is targeted towards my tastes
Sonny Bonds
June 22, 2012 at 12:45
Looks like I’m finally going to watch that Piranha 3DD I downloaded a few weeks ago.
Oh wait!!!
PiranhaConda? This weekend just go a lot sweeter.
Kervyn Cloete
June 22, 2012 at 13:15
Should be watching Mad Buddies on Sunday. You guys owe me big.
Gavin Mannion
June 22, 2012 at 13:21
Why are you watching it when you know you are going to hate it?
Kervyn Cloete
June 22, 2012 at 13:36
Nah, I’ll give it a fair chance, and review it completely on it’s merits. I’d like to think that I’m a bit more professional than that.