Film Critic: Stephen ‘Spling’ Aspeling
Hollywood in My Huis is a South African romantic comedy about a wallflower living in an impoverished railway neighbourhood who tries to plan the perfect matric prom. The film plays out like part She’s All That, part Bakgat! and part Juno, all wrapped up in a strong Cinderella undercurrent.
The She’s All That element stems from our central character’s aspiration to look like Charlize Theron at the 2004 Oscars. In an attempt to dazzle her peers and transform from wallflower to Prom Queen, she sets out to sew an Oscar-worthy dress. Her transformation isn’t as simple as letting her hair down and taking off her glasses (she doesn’t wear any), but the transition offers a humorous before-and-after appeal.
The Bakgat! high school tone comes through in the mischievous corridor interplay between jocks and nerds in a classic Revenge of the Nerds dynamic. A love-triangle romance creates tension, while the pranks, humiliation and eventual retribution keep the film light-hearted and upbeat.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, and while the only “baby” in Hollywood in My Huis is a reference to “baby chocolates,” the comedy features a distinct Juno-style small-town sass. Christia Visser is a charming young actress who beams with unassuming confidence as Jana. Much like Ally McBeal, our lead’s amusing daydreams play out visually as she aspires to recreate that winning Charlize Theron look.
She stars opposite Edwin van der Walt, who plays her best friend Frikkie with the energy of a young Sam Rockwell. Following their equally captivating turns in Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling, the co-leads display a believable, “it’s complicated” chemistry. They are supported by a solid ensemble cast, including Nicola Hanekom, Louw Venter, Leandie du Randt and Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp.
“You are my baby, my baby tjoklits.”
Hanekom plays Beatrice, a home stylist turned mother – a role you could easily imagine Naomi Watts taking on today. Feeling underappreciated and on the cusp of walking out on her family, she carries a life of regrets. There’s a gentle melancholy to Hanekom’s performance, and she shares some great moments opposite Louw Venter as her daydreaming, simpleton of a husband.
Venter delivers another diamond-in-the-rough performance, tapping into a The Big Lebowski state of mind with an unpredictable character who ironically grows on you. Meanwhile, Leandie du Randt is right at home as the predictably detestable Miss Popular, complete with a Mean Girls entourage, and Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp delivers a heartfelt turn as a modern-day Fairy Godmother.
Director Corné van Rooyen has brought this colourful, quirky, and entertaining small-town romantic comedy to life. From Jana sewing her own dress and conspiring to land the high school hunk as her date, to outmaneuvering family and friends in her prom obsession, the audience remains thoroughly entertained.
Ultimately, Hollywood in My Huis works as a fun, lightweight, and feel-good “prom-com” with a range of eccentric supporting characters to keep things amusing. It may not be entirely original, but it composes its familiar elements in a way that delivers something genuinely fresh and enjoyable.
For more film reviews, visit SPL!NG.