User reviews

This is hands down the worst South African movie that I've ever seen. And an english Van Der Merwe???!! not well thought through. They rant on about the "rooinek" yet all of them speak english. Does not make sense. really a massive failure.

A few of the actors in the movie are good, but not in this movie. The story is predictable, the cast does not match well, and the story and acting suffered because of it. This is a GIANT failure. One of the worst South African movies in the last 10 years. The Van Der Merwe jokes which are EXTREMELY popular in South African culture are made in the afrikaans language. The entire film is english. Like wtf were they thinking? The cast felt unemotional and stiff. Do yourself a favor and rather rent a Leon Schuster movie. #epicfail

This film was really funny, more than I expected. With some big laughs and over the top scenes. I wasn't sure Van der Merwe in english could work. But it did. Like many films based on historical characters Van der Merwe is in english and not in the language most people expected. Take Gladiator - should have been in Latin. Valkyrie should have been in German. And Braveheart should have been in Scottish Gaelic. But they weren't. And thank the heavens for that. I didn't understand any of those languages and this way many more people got to know and love these stories and these characters.

The other thing though is that Van der Merwe never actually existed. He's a made up person. He only became popular as an Afrikaner who didn't speak very good english. Spoke english, yes... just not very good english. He was a bit thick always getting himself into trouble and that's why we love the jokes and the Van character. This film brings this to life with humour and heart and some really good performances by the actors. It also makes Van more accessible to everyone in the country. This film has its ups and downs but it will make you laugh from start to finish. My whole family loved it - yours will too.

One star. This is a score I reserve for any movie that I can't tolerate long enough to watch to the end. The "script" is nonsense. The acting is atrocious. It's not slapstick, or over the top - it's just empty. This drivel doesn't even raise a weak smile. What a waste of time, money and effort. There is not a single redeemable feature in this bucket of sludge.

Nice Light movie with comedy good for the whole family.

9 out of 10 for making us laugh so much. And very well done even though this film was not totally perfect, but it was so hilarious. OMG was it funny. They did do an excellent job with the Van der Merwe joke character, bringing it to life with verrrry funny scenes like "watching my drinking" in the mirror ROFL and the part with the beeer chicken!!! So so funny! Feel good film 4 sure!

Very good light hearted entertainment for when you really need a good laugh (and I think we could all do with one now) We all enjoyed it and was perfect for putting a smile on all of our faces - with some good acting from top local actors like Ian Roberts (vans dad) and Rob van Vuuren with a hilarious performance as Van. Will watch again.

Another South African title to be proud of, Van Der Merwe. This comedy, starring some of the country's best, has been well written and put together, and it has been written in such a way that it falls snuggly in the category just above stepping on people's toes. Well done Mr Lawley for writing this successful title!

That's two thumbs up from me.

I don't know why people gave this movie 1 star really!! Realistic, so South African, very funny, so funny..... Loved watching...

Totally entertaining. Kept me laughing non stop. The main actor Van was amazing such great funny body language. All the actors however where good. Definetly a movie I recommend you watch if you want some good fun light hearted entertainment.

Rob van Vuuren is the reason to see this! The South African comedian is perfectly cast in the role of a lowly Boer farmer who is the ridicule of his family. He is forced to choose between his daughter (Reine Swart) and his father (Ian Roberts) when she is engaged to British doctor George (Matthew Baldwin). In an age where comedies in Hollywood rely too much on nudity and cursing like sailors, this brings back the old school brand of comedy with one gross out joke. The star's comic deadpan humor, combinbing literal and sarcasm with a taste of slapstick is fun to watch. The jokes are funny in the Airplane sense at times and seeing his daughter's frustrations with him is pretty fun to watch as well. Overall, a fun little gem from South Africa.