In this pleasant, family-friendly comedy set in South Africa, the one-liner “Where is it lekker?” becomes a catchphrase of sorts that reminds us that local is indeed “lekker”.
Frankie en Felipé follows the story of two once inseparable half-brothers who are torn apart when Frankie (Brendan Olivier) is taken to a home for lost boys. In later life Frankie has become a success in business while Felipé (Solomon Cupido) is a down-at-heel perfume salesman. Both brothers are in financial trouble: Frankie has run up debts of over R100 000, while Felipé owes money to a menacing loan shark. When Felipé turns to his estranged brother for help, he threatens to ruin the delicate life that Frankie has built for himself with his wedding day looming.
This film is crafted like any big-budget Hollywood comedy. Think of two great examples from the genre Pretty Woman and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner and you get the idea.
While it does find its feet at times, the film’s comedy relies too heavily on well-worn formulas and the jokes tend towards immaturity and silliness.
The movie comes into its own, however, when it steps away from these clichés.
With Frankie and Felipé staying at his fiancée’s (Kim Syster) family home, the comedy finds its feet with well-drawn characters and both hilarious and heartfelt moments. Danny Ross’s portrayal of Felipé’s nemesis, a pseudo-enlightened guru who is also dating Kim’s sister (Bianca Flanders), whose demeanouris intentionally absurd, adds an inspired comic touch to Solomon Cupido’s performance.
Director Marvin Lee Beukes commendably strikes a balance between the comedic and dramatic elements, and Bradley Olivier and Solomon Cupido make a charismatic leading combo. Cupido not only has the gift of gab but also keeps audiences engaged in every situation. The fiery, flavourful local dialect brings out the personalities and banter, and the cast is exceptionally tight-knit. The on-screen comic chemistry between the two brothers, who are no longer in touch, is strong yet as actors they are in sync and clearly at ease with the material.
The action scenes feature aesthetically pleasing well-framed and organised sequences. The picture’s technical complexity is not particularly high, despite its relative ease; it is interesting to note that different parts of Cape Town bring out different locations which makes the city a unique character in this film and Frankie and Felipé’s realities couldn’t be more accentuated in this way.
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