Talking Movies: The Gray Man, Meet Melusi and Klein Karoo 2
Spling reviews The Gray Man, Meet Melusi and Klein Karoo 2 as broadcast on Talking Movies, Fine Music Radio. Listen to podcast.
TRANSCRIPT
Good morning – welcome to Talking Movies, I’m Spling…
This week, we’re talking about an espionage action thriller, a comedy drama and a romance comedy drama.
Starting off with a film now on Netflix…
THE GRAY MAN
The CIA’s most skilled operative is chased across the globe by a psychopathic former colleague and his crew of international assassins.
Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo
Stars: Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas
– It seems as if The Gray Man fed the best elements from the most popular action franchises in recent memory through a meat grinder, making the title an indictment more than a reflection of the character’s anonymity and ability to blend into a crowd.
– While far from original, the Russo brothers have injected a good dose of their explosive, over-the-top and playful Marvel superhero energy to enliven The Gray Man.
– Dialing back the visual effects to planet earth, this equally colourful and spectacular film is much more grounded.
– Taking notes from the Daniel Craig Bond era and the Bourne saga with grand yet gritty action set pieces, the filmmakers want their hero to be human but stop just short of supernatural.
– The Gray Man borrows much of what makes John Wick such an elegant actioner, offering its own version of “gun ballet” with an equally cold dime-a-dozen approach to henchmen.
– There are a few moments that call for acting but it’s informed by the film’s stoic low-key bravado and magpie appetite for flashiness, opting to ooze cool over establishing serious dramatic substance beyond being called to be a protector.
– The flamboyance, cheesy one-liners and underlying nuttiness scream Nicolas Cage as if the Russos tried to adapt the actor’s essence, leaning into blistering action, comical characters and pure popcorn escapism.
A satisfactory 6 on the splingometer!
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Moving on to a movie on Showmax…
MEET MELUSI
A man with nothing left to lose discovers a young man claiming to be his son.
Director: Mandla N
Stars: Mothusi Magano, Lungile Khumo and Kenneth Nkosi
– Meet Melusi is a spirited and upbeat local coming-of-age comedy drama about fatherhood and responsibility.
– The plucky comedy features SAFTA-winning actor Mothusi Magano as career man, Aubrey, who finds his seemingly perfect life on the rocks when he loses his job.
– A likable and warm actor playing a man at the end of his tether, he stars opposite the care-free Lungile Khumo as Melusi.
– While Meet Melusi has Hollywood comedy aspirations, the production’s local flavour, modest budget and breezy storytelling keep it relatable.
– Going for situational comedy laughs with a few barbs of schadenfreude, its charming cast keep things light and entertaining, even if the ambling misadventures are mostly character-driven.
– The bouncy soundtrack is another one of Meet Melusi’s highlights, adding an extra lift as the comedy set up enters more dramatic and heartfelt territory.
– A fairly straightforward comedy, its mostly compelled by its colourful, fun-spirited energy and charming cast.
– Covering important themes about what it means to be called “Dad”, the movie trades on its awkward father-son odd couple chemistry and the-hits-keep-coming zingers for some more contemplative and heartfelt drama.
A satisfactory 6 on the splingometer!
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And finally a movie on Showmax…
KLEIN KAROO 2
Frans is forced to take a step back and re-evaluate his life after he’s left in front of the altar for the second time.
Director: Liezl Spies
Stars: Tim Theron, Leandi du Randt and Marciel Hopkins
– Klein Karoo 2 is a sequel to Klein Karoo, a fun and upbeat opposites attract romance comedy drama about a heartbroken documentarian and a big-hearted teacher.
– Picking up the story at the altar of another runaway bride scenario, Klein Karoo 2 recreates a love triangle as the filmmaker becomes entangled between a colleague and a sheep farmer.
– Playing without Klein Karoo co-star DonnaLee Roberts undoes much of the fairy tale romance of the first “romcom” and while somewhat inspired in repurposing du Randt’s character and introducing Hopkins, it may have been better served as a standalone film.
– The fun-loving tone of Klein Karoo has been switched for a rather unnecessary and mostly distracting medical diagnosis subplot.
– A downer, the device isn’t taken seriously enough to actually matter, simply exposing the tonal inconsistencies of Klein Karoo 2.
– Subduing some of the goofball comedy, the sequel is more earnest, which improves the performances but smothers the feel-good energy.
– While promising with some clever “romcom” moments, its contrived to the point of being charmless, a ghost of the original.
– The production looks the part and the performances are mostly good but its largely unfunny and altogether glum.
– It’s fun to revisit Klein Karoo, but in its struggle to bridge the lighthearted magic of the first movie, you can’t help but feel a bit cheated.
A flat 5 on the splingometer!
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So just to wrap up…
THE GRAY MAN… a stellar cast add heft to this flamboyant, spectacular, stylish and over-the-top magpie of an action thriller… A satisfactory 6!
MEET MELUSI… a charming cast, timely father-son themes and fun misadventure compel this modest and warm local comedy drama… A satisfactory 6!
KLEIN KAROO 2… tonal and storytelling inconsistencies undermine a promising, star-studded yet surprisingly sombre and charmless spin-off… A flat 5!
For more movie reviews and previous Talking Movies podcasts visit splingmovies.com.
And remember, Don’t WING it, SPL!NG it!
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