Bula Quo! Review

Director: Stuart St. Paul.

Starring: Francis Rossi, Rick Parfitt, Craig Fairbrass, Laura Aikman, Jon Lovitz, Matt Kennard, Jean Heard.

Running Time: 88 minutes.

Synopsis: On their 50th anniversary tour in Fiji, Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi witness a murder organised by an evil gangster played by Jon Lovitz, and spend the rest of the movie running for their lives.

BULA QUO! may be one of the worst films ever made, but it is impossible to stop watching. When the words ‘Status Quo’ and ‘film’ are put into the same sentence, there will be groans heard across the nation. A lot of people have a few Quo hits on their iPod, but everyone argues them away as ‘something my dad downloaded’. Having said that, after viewing the initial opening black and white footage detailing cannibalism in Fiji with Parfitt and Rossi starring as explorers, once the soundtrack breaks into ‘Rockin’ All Over the World’, there will not be a foot in the house untapped.

This film is the definition of guilty pleasure, much in line with its creators. To start with the bad (and there is plentiful material to choose from), the story is overdone and basically THE PAROLE OFFICER set in Fiji with 70s rockstars. The supporting cast don’t stand up to much, with Craig Fairbrass looking like Ray Stubbs doing an impression of Tamar Hassan as the pair’s bodyguard Simon, and Laura Aikman giving an irritating performance as an intern/publicist, ironically named Caroline to match one of the band’s biggest hits. Despite being far from sweet, when the British student hits her stride and delivers the line, “Oh my God I think I’m starting to like them,” many audience members will find themselves shocked that after suffering through the inconsequential opening half hour, they’re starting to agree.

If you’re looking for a few laughs in the cinema, after the opening portion they do come thick and fast – just imagine your granddads on holiday and on the run in Fiji after getting down down, deeper and down into trouble with a mafia boss (Jon Lovitz). Audiences will initially see the pair hilariously engage in cockney mumblings through breathing apparatus to escape sharks, followed by escaping a bomb in the shape of a doll, and then engaging in a decidedly low-speed chase on golf buggies through a golf course. Due to quite a hefty dose of action and stunt work, the film does become very entertaining. Add this to several amusing musical sequences including Parfitt and Rossi deadpanning their way through playing ukuleles, and once again there is a small bit of comedy gold.

In a season full of overly serious blockbusters concerning the end of the world, brooding superheroes and shiny spaceships, here is a film that doesn’t take itself seriously by any stretch of the imagination. The acting is wooden and unimaginative, as is the story, but it will keep any audience laughing. SCHINDLER’S LIST it is not, but this film is worth a view and a few laughs. If you like a bit of ‘Whatever You Want’ in the first place, all the better.

BULA QUO! opens in UK cinemas on July 5th.