The Gods Must Be Crazy II (1989)

"Reunited, and it feels so good...."

Two curious children become accidental stowaways on a large poacher's truck carrying them far from home. Their father, Xixo, embarks on a long trek to recover them and encounters two soldiers and plane-wrecked tourists along the way.

Jamie Uys doesn't get the recognition he deserves as a filmmaker. His films are instantly recognizable as his; a unique blend of nature film and slapstick comedy that nobody else bothered to do. He's an auteur in the truest sense. Released 9 years after the first film, "The Gods Must Be Crazy II" is a delightful sequel. Everything I loved in the first film is present here, but the story is different enough not to seem like a cheap cash-in. N!xau returns as Xixo, the wise bushman confused by the large white men who possess the knowledge to create machines, yet too stupid to survive in the desert. His two children, Xiri and Xisa, are both adorable and are perhaps better at conveying emotions without dialogue than a trained actor with well scripted lines. Even Paddy O'Byrne returns to narrate, thankfully, as his voice had so much to do with my enjoyment of the first. The other players and situations are pleasant enough to fill out this simple, yet entertaining story. My only complaint, and it's a very small one, is that the limitations of the blue-screen technology in this film are very apparent when utilized. It's easy to forgive when the children's' safety prompted the use.

This is a fun movie. At times this is a bit racy, but only slightly so. Overall this should be safe to watch with children of any age. Sadly, movies like this have likely died with Uys. It's a shame he made so few. I'd love for more of his work to be made available to me. Even in the Internet age, his stuff is hard to find.

4/5