Hey Boy (2003) User Reviews

Good start - but boring otherwise

[echie10 · 5/10 · 26 April 2005]

I saw this film last night and was quite excited about the prospect of seeing the new works of one of our local filmmakers. It started of good with the 2 main characters standing on a hill outside Johannesburg and commenting on how difficult it was being born heterosexual. It then starts with a "Trainspotting" intro and I thought here was going to be at last a funky and hip South African production. However that was the end of the fun. The story resounds over two men; one who cannot get over past loves and one that cannot commit to one person only. These "themes"; if you would like to call it that; is repeated over and over again and everything becomes quite predictable. One of them then starts teaching sexual behavior for an honors degree class at Wits (This from a person who cannot get over a girl he dated for 2 weeks one year ago????) and the actor totally overacts the part.

We are then shown the other man (Berry) hooking up with every type of cliché possible and then dropping them at the end only to fall in love with the one you knew he was going to fall in love with as this was the only one he did not sleep with. There are also several different sub-stories that I cannot for the life of me figure out how it works in to the story? I do believe that money for production was a factor but this does not excuse a very poor script. Brendan Pollecut (Berry) and Karin van der Laag are the 2 gems in this movie and I do believe they have great talent but they need stronger roles and hopefully our industry will grow more to expose their talent.

I only recommend this movie to someone who is really into new South African films.

Refreshing and Funny South African Fare

[madeba · 10 June 2005]

Warmly received at the Hollywood MiniDV Film Festival (where I saw it), Hey Boy is something of a coming-of-age film for 20-somethings. Berry and Janks are two childhood buddies who have everything in their favor. They're attractive, intelligent and well schooled. The problem is that they are sorely lacking in the emotion department. Brendan Pollecutt as Berry is charming and funny. A serial womanizer and commitment-phobe, he inevitably finds something wrong with his girlfriend and moves on. He's reminiscent of Seinfeld in this respect, except Seinfeld didn't sleep with every date. Berry is also the fat kid in a candy store; he's halfway through one flavor, when his eyes have fallen on another that he just HAS to try.

Janks, on the other hand, is entirely more responsible. Where Berry is jobless and immature, Janks (played by the bookish Justin Cohen) is focused and hard-working. He also hasn't given up on romance. Unfortunately, he's completely hung-up over his ex, which leads to a curiously incongruous "venting" that recurs throughout the film. Ironically, Janks' day job involves lecturing college students on sexual liberation; the very topic he himself is unable to embrace. To make matters worse, the guys share an apartment, which only magnifies their contrasting personalities. It's a tenuous relationship as it is, so when they both fall for Cindi, played by the striking Lorcia Cooper, it's time to face up to each other and themselves.

For all their shortcomings, both leads are engaging. Pollecutt is so thoroughly charming that he wins you over in spite of his behavior. While the film doesn't take itself too seriously, there are poignant moments. And while you may not recognize yourself in these guys, you'll certainly recognize people you know. Strong performances, including some hilarious cameos, slick editing and a catchy soundtrack, make Hey Boy well worth your while. It's also refreshing to see a South African film that doesn't get bogged down by politics. An 8/10.