The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989) Reviews

This is such a highly entertaining film with a fantastically immersive story. It's not as funny as the original. Referencing international law was a nice touch.

This time, everybody's going crazier.

Following the unexpected success of the hit South African cult-comedy The Gods Must Be Crazy, a sequel was inevitable. Thus, Jamie Uys (who was responsible for virtually everything behind the camera of the original film) commenced work on the suitably-titled The Gods Must Be Crazy II. Uys was visibly determined to replicate the success of the original film with this follow-up - he reportedly spent in excess of four years developing this sequel in order to script, location-scout, cast and direct. After all this drudgery, it's quite unfortunate to behold the tragic result. The Gods Must Be Crazy II bares the strain it endured to facilitate its journey to the big screen - the film is desperately simple and not very funny. It's a pale aping of its predecessor, employing the same style and similar gags in its conveyance of a lacklustre story. Perhaps it's no shock that this sequel isn't at all fresh - the surprise is that it's a disheartening catastrophe...witless, crude, lethargic and, frankly, quite boring.

The storyline is merely a collection of three hokey subplots, much like the original film. The Gods Must Be Crazy II abides by the same formula of its predecessor to the letter - i.e. a handful of unrelated stories somehow converging by the film's end. The opening sequence is effectively a precise replica of the first film, with the same dulcet narrator providing insights into the idyllic lifestyle of the Kalahari Bushmen. The first subplot once again concerns our beloved Bushmen hero Xixo (N!xau). Elephant-ivory poachers have invaded the Kalahari Desert. Xixo's two children become accidental stowaways on a truck belonging to this pair of sinister (if somewhat incompetent) poachers. The intrepid Xi aims to save his children and sets out to track the vehicle.

Meanwhile, a New York Doctor of Law - Ann Taylor (Farugia) - travels to South Africa to deliver a paper at a seminar. But, as a consequence of some fast developments, she agrees to take a brisk aerial safari and her plane subsequently crashes. Ann is therefore trapped in the middle of the Kalahari Desert with a zoologist by her side.
As for the third subplot: an African soldier (Tshabalala) and a Cuban freedom fighter (Bowen) find themselves in an arresting stalemate when they have trouble discerning who has captured who. These two soldiers (I think) symbolise the foolishness of war.
A mindless slapstick feast ensues as these stories unite.

It seems that during the creation of The Gods Must Be Crazy II, Jamie Uys was in a state of being out of touch. The film is extraordinary short on comedy, even if filled with routines intended to be funny. Quality laughs are hard to come by in this dreary sequel. Uys' direction also lacks energy. As a result, it drags. The film is additionally permeated with Wild Kingdom footage of exotic creatures (meerkats, hyenas, etc), most of which has quite obviously been photographed separately from the actors they're supposed to be sharing scenes with. Most likely an intentional technical fault for a chortle, but it's overused...and employed poorly.
In addition, the upgraded technicals remove the raw charm of the original (by that I mean the special effects look less dodgy, and there are far more special effects). The technical improvements are for the worst, unfortunately.

The Gods Must Be Crazy II is laden with the same type of humour that filled the original film - there's plenty of slapstick, pratfalls, and film alterations (i.e. fast-motion). The comedy doesn't quite gel as well the second time around. The silent-comedy routines of the original have transformed into relentless, frequent "comedy" sequences sped-up and with stupid sound effects - it's the equivalent of watching South Africa's Unfunniest Home Videos! The over-civilised heroine also has her skirt lifted frequently. The result falls in jarring territory between Crocodile Dundee and Benny Hill.
Additionally, the romantic leads are deficient in the type of wacky, amusing, but genial chemistry that the principal actors from the first film had in abundance. The humour also seems more contrived, and while watching this flick - no matter how entertaining it gets from time to time - it still registers as just another redundant, fluffy sequel.

There are countless faults, but The Gods Must Be Crazy II certainly isn't a total disaster. It still retains a sense of fun, adventure, and breezy charm now and again, even if it has difficulty sustaining interest and engaging a viewer.
There's also great joy in revisiting N!xau as Xixo, and hearing that wonderful click language again. Even at the film's lowest point, N!xau is still most watchable.

At the end of the day, The Gods Must Be Crazy II lacks the simple warmth and delightful charm of its predecessor. The central problem here is that it employs a well-worn formula, with the same kind of comedy reapplied. Its amplified sophistry is less appealing, and in the long run the film seems a rather superfluous effort. It's moderately pleasant viewing for sure and occasionally quite amusing, but it's not a patch on the original and, in the long run, it's just a simple time-waster. As the sun sinks gradually on The Gods Must Be Crazy II, everybody shares a disappointed yawn.

Followed by a few more unsuccessful sequels.

4.5/10