Yankee Zulu (1993)

As children, Rhino and Zulu were best friends, until an incident causes them to go their separate ways. They meet up again as adults when Zulu, who has spent years in the United States, has... See full summary »

Director:

Gray Hofmeyr

Writers:

Leon Schuster, Leon Schuster (screenplay)

Stars:

Leon Schuster, John Matshikiza, Wilson Dunster

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leon Schuster	...	Rhino Labuschagne
John Matshikiza	...	Zulu Mashabela
Wilson Dunster	...	Captain Diehard
Terri Treas	...	Rowena Labuschagne
Michelle Bowes	...	Tienkie
Skye Svorinic	...	Prince William
Ruan Mandelstam	...	Young Rhino
Bobo Seritsani	...	Young Zulu
Mari Michael	...	Young Rowena (as Marie Van Deventer)
Mbali Dladla	...	Thandi
Julius Van Zyl	...	Jumbo
Julie Strijdom	...	Ma
Peter Hugo	...	Prince Charles
Tolla van der Merwe	...	Uncle Bok
Chris Biko	...	Shadrack

Storyline

As children, Rhino and Zulu were best friends, until an incident causes them to go their separate ways. They meet up again as adults when Zulu, who has spent years in the United States, has become a wanted criminal. They get involved in a madcap chase involving a great deal of money and the inept members of a racist group called T.U.R.D.

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Plot Keywords:

chase | friendship | capture | elephant | divorced man | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

South Africa

Language:

English Afrikaans

Release Date:

16 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jenki Zulu

Filming Locations:

South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Distant Horizon, Toron Screen Corporation, Koukus Troika

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

References Home Alone (1990)

User Reviews

Neither a masterpiece nor a complete waste of time

...especially comparing to other modern (same genre) movies.

The jokes may not always be funny, but they are far from being vulgar as in many others (mainstream, Hollywood) comedies which use far more body function jokes. The acting doesn't have many highlights, but if you're prepared that you won't see Jack Lemmon or Cary Grant you won't be disappointed. And, considering when the movie was made, racial relations humor is quite good balanced. Obviously political correctness (thank God) was not necessary to release it.

However, the whole construction is much worse balanced. It looks as if at least four writers and four directors made short movies and then just leaned (not even connected) them to release it as one single film. In the beginning we have an almost romantic coming-to-age part made in European (French or Swedish) style. When characters become adults we get a story with well included jokes made as USA authors were doing when average target audience was still older then 12, and for me this is the best part. Third quarter becomes a slapstick comedy, but if the authors came quite close to the best in the first half, they are far far behind trying to look like Mel Brooks or Peter Sellers. And, who knows why, finally we get a cartoon comedy, a copy of 'Home Alone'. Suddenly a male and female clone of Culkin, barely seen before, become main stars of the final quarter and finish movie with all lack of logic and reality (already damaged in slapstick part in neonazi house) that Home-alone-type of movies suffers from. And that's probably when your kids will enjoy more than you. But I don't understand why some comments suggest that this movie might not be appropriate for children. If you let them see 'Home Alone'... (not to mention all those, mostly Japanese cartoons). At least you can watch it with them (maybe explain something if you live in a different culture) without feeling a long tail and long ears growing on you, the feeling so often appearing during many block-buster (teen) comedies.