The last Moise Kharmeliaud movie that I saw was so terrible, so horrendous, that I, one of the most patient, let-me-give-them-the-benefit-of-a-doubt movie fans hit the stop button within 12 minutes. Not satisfied with doing just that, I subsequently hit the EJECT button to get that monstrosity out of my DVD player. The movie was called Le Onzième Commandment (The 11th Commandment), and let me tell you, calling it a bomb (not the bomb, but a bomb), would be well a compliment.
So glad, though, that Mr. Moise is staying away from action fare, and decided to direct a simple little story with the film Les Aventures de Boss Djo
It’s a nice little movie. Heavy on simplicity. The acting is surprisingly not sub par. Guyto Beauduy, who we previously saw on the screen as part of the Demele trio, plays Boss Djo (government name: Joseph Bossilas), an unemployed, married father of three (played smartly by a little band of junior actors Stefica Lafaille, Eli Beauduy, and Glymy Beauduy), who handles life’s hurdles with a dimpled smile and humor. Beauduy has great comedic timing, and knows what it takes to steal a scene. Mirlande Edouard is very effective in her brief appearances on the screen as Beauduy’s screen wife.
The movie is episodic at times, but the story solid. Boss Djo, the protagonist is such a simpleton that he doesn’t realize that the neighbors next door Kenol and Beatrice (Wheeler J. Mackens and Danielle Jacques) have diabolical designs on him. As he battles everything and everyone from his landlord (Ashley Jean-Baptiste) to a drug-dealing denizen , to a voodoo priest (Leon Fanel), to a deportee head of a kidnapping cartel (Wislet Pierre-Louis) and babysits a ditzy, and neurotic 60ish socialite (Ultide Morriset), hilarity ensues.
Kharmeliaud’s Moise has grown more skillful with the camera since his last movie, varying shots and angles. He’s joined by a collaborator who’s billed simply as J. Boy. Other collaborators include Stéphane Baptiste, who did a rather decent job handling the sound, and Laurent Lamy, who took charge of the movie’s lighting. “Kite la Vi Roule”, the movie’s theme sung by folk singer Berthony Pierre-Louis really lends some authenticity and charm to the movie.
Les Adventures de Boss Djo is about how perseverance and faith can triumph over all human misfortunes. If you don’t get at least one genuine laugh, out of the movie, see your local neurosurgeon.
