Leon Schuster Movies
- 2001
What would happen if a white child with a couple of odd talents -- one prophetic and one malodorous -- was found and raised by an appreciative, yet hapless African tribe? South African director Gray Hofmeyr attempts to find out in his 2002 family-oriented comedy entitled Mr. Bones. Shortly after surviving a plane accident, a mysterious youngster is discovered by the Kuvuki tribe just as the babe is fending off a hungry lion with explosive flatulence. This deed duly noted, the tribesmen adopt the child as one of their own and sometime later discover the boy also has great skill in divining the future from reading bones -- something the tribe considers a greatly respected skill. Henceforth, the boy is dubbed Bones (as an adult, played by Leon Schuster) and some years later is ordered by the tribal king Tsonga to seek a previously unknown heir Bones predicted to exist. Bones sets out to locate the heir, and decides that touring golf pro Vince Lee (David Ramsey) is the man, much to the consternation and protestations of Lee's agent, as well as a gambler with a lot of money at stake in Vince's victorious appearance at a local tournament. Mr. Bones was selected for inclusion into the African Horizons program at the 2002 Montreal World Film Festival. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Schuster, David Ramsey, (more)
- 1994
This South African slapstick comedy that contains a strong message against racism. Two former childhood friends, Rhino and Zulu, are reunited after 25 years when Zulu is deported for stealing cars in the U.S. and must return home. Rhino's former girlfriend, Rowena, a white supremacist whom he eventually married then divorced, was one of the reasons Zulu left South Africa. Zulu is to do time for his crimes. He is escorted to prison by Rowena's new boyfriend, an insane Nazi. On route, Zulu escapes and takes with him a winning lottery ticket. As he runs from his pursuers he again reconnects with Rhino and Tienke, his adopted daughter. They get help from a TV make-up man who makes Rhino black and Zulu white, giving each of them a taste of the other's lives. Together the two sneak into one of Rowena's parties and promptly get caught. If they do not return the lotto-money, they will be killed. Tienke saves the day with the help of Prince William of Windsor who has snuck away from a royal tour. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Schuster, John Matshikiza, (more)
- 1993
This South African slapstick comedy shoots political barbs while chronicling the adventures of a politically incorrect sportscaster who learns about life the hard-way. The story begins in 1989, "before the changes." Sweet is an all around nasty guy. He drinks too much, lives too hard, and is a sexist. He often mistreats his girlfriend. He is just about to lose his job to another sportscaster. On the day he wins a lot of money he is also hit in the head. He falls into a three year long coma. When he finally wakes up, Sweet learns that Mandela is president, De Klerk leads the opposition, and the Boers live in white townships. Is he dreaming? Sweet is assisted by Alfred Short, a small black boy who helps him reclaim his life, including his money and his girlfriend. At one point, Sweet enters a rugby match disguised as a black man and does everything he can to insure that his team wins. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Schuster, Joanna Weinberg, (more)
- 1986
This candid-camera-style drama has little to recommend it because of the way in which the "gullible" are treated, and in this case, the white director, producers, star, and crew seem to have tilted too far to the right in picking on less educated black South Africans. Many of the jokes would be considered degrading by some, a trait which certainly slashes the potential for humor. Because the dialogue is in English and Afrikaans, audiences will be limited to South Africans. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leon Schuster
