Leon Schuster is back and this time he’s got some new friends in the form of the versatile Kenneth Nkosi and the incredibly good looking Tanit Phoenix along with the ever present Alfred Ntombela.
Now I’m going to stop right here and give you a warning. If you are a high brow film connoisseur that frequents Cinema Nouveau and likes to talk about art direction, sweeping camera shots and in-depth cultured story lines that make you think deeply about the meaning of the universe and your place in it then you are in the wrong place. Rather go read our dual Prometheus reviews by Kervyn and Noelle.
However if you’re looking to find out whether you should go watch Mad Buddies or not and you realise it’s a Leon Schuster film then read on.
In Leon’s own words the plot of Mad Buddies is thin and the pranks are thick as you follow the story of 2 men, Boetie (Leon Schuster) and Beast (Kenneth Nkosi), as they are forced to work together on a road trip from Kwazulu-Natal to Gauteng on foot.
The road trip stems from an initial misunderstanding where they were both attempting to catch a poacher and Boetie manages to get his toe shot off, well mostly off, he does the rest with the aid of a knife which turned my stomach to no end. Anyway the misunderstanding results in both Boetie and Beast leaving their positions as game rangers and meeting up later at Mr Mda’s (Alfred Ntombela) daughter’s wedding and getting into an argument that destroys the entire event.
After which Kelsey (Tanit Phoenix) comes up with the plan to get them to walk from KZN to GP while she films the entire event as a reality show without their knowledge. That is the end of the plot, no seriously that’s it. There is no more story than that.
From then on it’s slapstick gag after toilet humour over and over again, it’s got some twists and turns but none that you’d be overly surprised at and midway through we’re given a little mini rendition of The Hangover which is pulled off magnificently.
In a sign of the times, we are also treated to an openly gay boer who runs a flower farm and for some reason has a stock of crocodiles on hand, we also get to hear what Jacob Zuma is when he’s not happy and get to see Alfred take on slap-stick comedy in a good way to varying effects. The statue scene and car/gate scene had the theatre cracking up even though they didn’t do it for me, but his ladder skit killed me though.
And in sticking with a Leon Schuster movie we can expect a brand new cultural meme to come out of this with the classic one liner that comes out of the Lesotho highlanders mouth. It’s easily my favourite moment of the entire movie and one that I can see myself using again and again to annoy anyone I can find.
In a slight change from Leon’s normal movies very little racial humour is used, which I hope is a sign of our growing maturity as a country, but other than that it’s the same old style of movies that you’ve either grown to love or hate. And if box office takings are anything to go by then South African’s love of this humour and this movie is once again going to set box office sales alight.
The big difference with this Schuster film is that for the first time it has been financed by Disney and the Disney marketing and distribution machine will be pushing this one locally and then into select international regions. Which if it succeeds could well lead to an influx of foreign investment into our local film market, something which you would be hard pressed to be negative about.
In the end it’s a safe play by the team behind Mad Buddies, it’s not perfect and some parts felt really laboured but all in all I enjoyed the experience of watching it. And if you enjoyed Leon Schuster’s previous movies then this is a must see but if you felt his previous movies were the worst of what the local industry could offer then you’re not going to be happy with this one.
Last Updated: June 14, 2012
Geoffrey Tim
June 14, 2012 at 12:56
No. that’s all I have to say.
Christo Kruger
June 14, 2012 at 12:57
Wait, so Prometheus gets a 3 and a 1 and this movie gets a 3.5? Can you guys honestly say that this is a better movie than Prometheus?
I… just don’t know.
Gavin Mannion
June 14, 2012 at 13:09
Firstly different reviewers. I would have given Prometheus a 3.5 as well but secondly and most importantly you really can’t compare the two.
They are different genre’s, massively different budgets and targeted at wildly different audiences.
I enjoyed this movie as much as I enjoyed Prometheus. Prometheus is clearly technically a better film so if that’s what you are going for then you already know this isn’t your type of movie.
Christo Kruger
June 14, 2012 at 13:40
I get what you’re saying, but (and this is the same problem in gaming) at the end of the day it will say TheMovies.co.za scored Mad buddies higher than Prometheus. Which is just wrong.
But I can’t really argue with you as I haven’t seen the film yet. I just sometimes get this feeling our local reviewers cut local film some slack just because the’re local. Judge it with the same brush you would any film.
Gavin Mannion
June 14, 2012 at 14:13
And I still disagree, should we use the same metrics for small indie titles in gaming as we do for the latest AAA blockbuster?
You need to take all the facts into account before reviewing something otherwise nothing new would ever rise up.
Christo Kruger
June 15, 2012 at 07:12
I understand but indy titles usually brings something else to the table: Some great gameplay mechanic or nice story that AAA usually doesn’t have but I can honestly say I see nothing in Mad Buddies that could salvage it.
And it’s not like I hate everything LS does. I love Here Comes U.N.T.A.G.
Kervyn Cloete
June 14, 2012 at 13:46
I hereby disavow myself of anything Gavin has said or will say about this movie.
Oh and don’t worry, I will do a Second Opinion Review, just to restore balance to the Force.
Christo Kruger
June 15, 2012 at 07:07
But you’ll still have to watch the film to get a second opinion, right? Are you sure you want to do this to yourself?
Kervyn Cloete
June 15, 2012 at 08:26
Hey, I bit the bullet for Ghost Rider 2, didn’t I? And this surely can’t be worse than that, right? RIGHT?!
Wtf101
June 15, 2012 at 11:53
Is there anything worse than Ghost Rider 2? Hell, I have seen some skin flicks with a better plot and acting than Ghost Rider 2!
Wtf101
June 15, 2012 at 11:59
Love him or hate him, Schuster will always be the king of SA comedy. His latest stuff has been seriously down the toilet for me. However, I will never deny laughing my arse off when he decided to put a snake in a suitcase and leave that suitcase on the side of the road.
TireloMabetoa
July 5, 2012 at 09:21
He will not always be the King of SA comedy, one day he’ll be a distant memory, a joke, an antiquity.
Wtf101
July 5, 2012 at 10:56
Yes, one day, he will go the way of all flesh and pass away. And maybe someday, someone will arise and be seen as the real successor to Schuster as the King of SA comedy. Right now, I cannot see that happening, as all current attempts at the crown has fallen flat.
But being a distant memory means people will still remember him. So at least he will not be forgotten.
A joke? You do realize that you called Leon Schuster a joke? That you cannot see the irony in this supposed insult is actually quite amazing.
TireloMabetoa
July 5, 2012 at 11:24
You’re really reaching if you see irony in my statement. Calling someone a joke doesn’t mean that they’re funny., I thought that was the commonly accepted understanding.
I hate Leon Schuster’s movies, I really do. If there was a way to erase his entire body of work from existence, I would do it. I have to console myself with the fact that one day he will die, thus losing his ability to further defile our country’s filmaking history. On that day I wall walk to the nearest drinking establishment, buy myself a beer and find someone else’s movies to hate.
Wtf101
July 5, 2012 at 12:02
I was actually referring to Leon Schuster being synonymous
with the word joke. Oh Schucks, I am ever so sorry if that went over your head.
Defiling our country’s filmmaking history? You must be joking!
What filmmaking history are you referring to exactly?
And sorry if this comment is being dragged out a bit. I was trying to keep it Sweet and short…
TireloMabetoa
July 5, 2012 at 12:34
You’re entitled to your misguided opinions, but if you’re not aware of the fact that South Africa has produced movies other than Leon Schuster’s shoddy portfolio, then we can’t continue this discussion.
Gavin Mannion
July 5, 2012 at 14:15
I don’t understand the negative feelings towards Schuster.. so you don’t like his films; so what? Him making popular films doesn’t negatively affect you does it?
When internationals think of South Africans in movies everyone instantly quotes “Diplomatic immunity” or thinks of District 9..
TireloMabetoa
July 5, 2012 at 14:27
In the same vein, I don’t understand positive feelings towards Schuster. I’m angered by the lack of effort that seems to go into the writing and production of his films. Of course this is all in my opinion, clearly it’s not in line with what the majority think, but from the amount of revenue that his films generate, I’m convinced that you could put whipped cream and sprinkles on a turd, call it Ice cream and the majority of South Africans would eat it. Internationals be damned, we need to start pushing our local film industry and start telling our stories. By the way, there is a clip on YOUtube of me eating a chicken wing while John legend plays in the background, but I was being ironic, so it’s art.
Gavin Mannion
July 5, 2012 at 14:33
You got a link to that clip?
As for the movies I agree we need more locals making films and showing that it’s not all a one man show but I don’t think Leon is to blame for that.
He’s found a market and is now creating films for his target market, it’s a very smart thing to do and I can’t be upset at him for doing that.
And I’d disagree about the lack of effort, if it was so easy to please the masses more people would have done it by now, Leon has a gift and he knows how to use it
TireloMabetoa
July 5, 2012 at 14:42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oJsC09DHKQ
He’s a brilliant businessman, I will give him that, I would love to see him film or at least back something with a bit more substance to it. South Africa has made him a millionaire, so he could help kick off the evolution of comedic filmmaking in this country if he chose to.
Reggie
June 19, 2012 at 22:47
The first 20 minutes or so, is funny and unpredictable until later when Alfred Ntombela is always falling/tripped from beginning to the end
Gavin Mannion
June 20, 2012 at 06:34
Yeah I can’t say I loved the constant Alfred slapstick throughout…
paul
October 7, 2012 at 18:32
I told myself that I will never watch the movie. As it is,,,,,, Im watching it now, between naps. Typpical Leon Schuster kak. Fast forward movie clips is soooo out-dated. Im gonna have a dop now while my Mrs who has no sence of humour will continue to watch this crap. Good pirate copy though. Mark Lottering, Barry Hilton nd Leon Schuster ran out of material long time ago. Talking about Material……..now thts a good movie with brilliant acting.