Master of disguises and pranks

Bakang Israel | Friday September 4, 2015 13:40

 

Movie Concept and Cast

South Africa’s naughtiest man is back to his funny antics again, tricking people and causing mayhem. Leon Schuster’s pranks and disguises make simple conversations with strangers you meet in public seem dangerous, as you never know who else is listening.

In this case imagine yourself unconsciously lashing out whilst being recorded on national television. Schuster’s style of comedy is very distinct and unique, as it is raw and fresh. He derives humour from the nature of response and surprise shock of the victim in the act. Over the past two decades Schuster made people laugh with films like Oh Schucks! Here Comes UNTAG, Sweet ‘n Short, Yankee Zulu, Panic Mechanic, Mr. Bones, Mama Jack and Mad Buddies amongst others. In his latest offering Pay Back The Money, he addresses current issues in South Africa.

After losing rugby’s holy grail, the Currie Cup trophy, Schucks sets off on a hilarious journey to pay for his sins. The Sports Minister offers Schucks a lifeline to create a documentary film that shows South Africa in a positive light, in lieu of a 1 million rand fine. As the documentary takes shape, the trophy traverses its own perilous journey as it moves from two clueless crooks to an enterprising traffic officer, as well as a conniving pawnbroker, among others. The ‘documentary’ features a series of hidden cameras, capturing unsuspecting South Africans and a host of famous personalities and celebrities.

 

Action

Leon Schuster’s comedies are always a marvel to watch, however Pay Back The Money is just audacious as it goes all out in the hunt for all of Mzanzi’s bad deeds. When watching one senses a bit of influence from Etv’s controversial programme LNN Late Night News with Loyiso Gola, which also makes fun of the state of affairs in South Africa. The plot is however weak because Schuster is not in the thick of things. The movie feels shallow as it falls short of the hostilities of the protagonist and antagonist. The film is basically pranks all the way, which at some point fail to sustain the momentum. The pranks, however, address certain critical issues that will sure smack you with a few good laughs. The movie starts off with a man who resembles President, Jacob Zuma running across a fully packed Rugby Stadium half naked saying “you will not catch me”, which relates to the president’s rape saga. As if that is not enough Pay Back The Money also raises eyebrows by touching on the racial issues that have crippled South Africa as it mocks the sports minister (Desmond Dube), as he alludes that in future 15 percent of the Springboks rugby national team should be blacks. The stunts are also way too exhilarating, as we have come to fall in love with Schuster’s film for their weird humour. Here are ones that stood out in Pay Back The Money, Leon Schuster disguises as a blind black man come taxi driver, scaring the passengers with their taxi being all over the road hitting everything it comes across. This one got the audience to laugh to the point of freezing a bit. In one instance, an unsuspecting young girl gets a taste of hell’s kitchen when her master (Leon) instructs her to steer 3 pots simultaneously, because if the soups were to stop mixing all hell would break loose. You should see what’s unfolds as explosives mounted inside the soups start to explode.

Imagine going to a liquor store and as you buy alcohol a funny health ministry inspector questions you on how much you earn, implying that you should buy alcohol based on how much you earn, after which he bravely spills a portion of the alcohol you just purchased in front you then gives you a half empty bottle as your purchase. That is one of the issues, which made the audience laugh.  Leon in this scene addresses one of the top issues affecting South Africans.

 

Reception

Pay Back The Money does not rank at the official, box office, but it remains to be seen whether it will outshine its fellow predecessor Mr. Bones and Panic Mechanic, which are still Leon Schuster’s best grossing films to date with earnings of more than R33 million and R16 million rand at the South African box office.

 

Movie: Schucks! Pay Back The Money

Genre: Comedy

Duration: 1hour 34 minutes

Age Restriction: 13

Release Date: August 28   

Director: Gray Hofmeyr

Main Cast: Leon Schuster, Desmond Dube

New movie leading at box office this week are:

 

1.Straight Outta Compton

2.War Room

3.Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

4.No Escape

5.Sinister 2

 

The movie is funny, and gets6/10 just for the pranks.  The plot, however, is not strong enough.