Bon Bini: Bangkok Nights

Bon Bini: Bangkok Nights is a new spin-off of the Bon Bini Holland film series. This film is directed by Pieter van Rijn, who also directed the third Bon Bini Holland.

To expand FC Kip, Ping Ping (Phi Nguyen) convinces Judeska (Jandino Asporaat) to take out a loan from business magnate Lo-Pei (Kwok One). After making this deal, they learn that they didn't read the small print properly, and they lost everything. To get everything back, the FC Kip team travels to Bangkok to get everything back.

With this new Bon Bini film they bring a new location and some light new comedy. Furthermore, the film is somewhat repetitive compared to the other films in the film series. This way, this film can remain fun for fans of the film series, but they could also simply watch an earlier film from the film series for a similar experience.

The comedy again consists of spoof comedy, where they playfully present scenarios from other well-known films in similar, but more playfully ridiculous ways. This same kind of comedy was also done in the Scary Movie film series, for example. Furthermore, there are stereotypical jokes that ridicule certain groups.

Although some of the humour uses tropes built on stereotypes, it's hard not to laugh with, at and along with the latest madcap adventures of the same cast of lovably acted characters from the previous 3 films in the series.

Madcap & mayhem are combined with relatable characters, a good proportion of which are brought to life by tge irrepressible Jandino Asporaat.

I suspect the film will resonate more with audiences than critics but the series seems more designed to keep giving audiences what they clearly want judging by the success of the first three instalments and the early audience responses to this film.

"Bon Bini Bangkok Nights" is a confounding letdown, especially with the Dutch Film Foundation's sponsorship. It's astonishing that actors agreed to be part of a project that reflects poorly on their talent. The apparent high budget appears to have been squandered on forced humor, awkward timing, and a lead actor who falls short on delivering laughs.

The lack of chemistry and depth in acting, combined with a disjointed storyline, make this film a regrettable endeavor that leaves the audience questioning the decision-making process. Amidst the disappointments, the only redeeming quality lies in the well-captured shots of the Rotterdam and Bangkok skylines, providing a brief respite from an otherwise lackluster cinematic experience. Here's hoping for more discerning choices in both casting and storytelling in future projects backed by the Dutch Film Foundation.

Although I haven't come to expect Hollywood level drama and storytelling, the bon bini series is usually good for some cheap laughs. Unfortunately, for me the action fell flat in this one.

It's over the top drama, with unrealistic shootouts and chases that don't go anywhere. Sometimes you don't even know who is chasing and who is trying to get away.

That is not to say the movie isn't enjoyable. There are a few good moments throughout. But some of these could have been more fleshed out. One example: before a fight scene, the characters talk about how it would go down in the movies/Bollywood. But then in the actual fight scene there is only a tiny bit of Bollywood action, most of it is still "empty your machine gun and somehow the good guys win". The movie is already over the top, surprise us with some more please :)

"Bon Bini Bangkok Nights" left a disappointing mark with its disjointed plot, weak character development, and humor that fell flat, significantly hindering the viewing experience. While acknowledging the team's effort, it's imperative that future projects prioritize a more cohesive plot, well-defined characters, and nuanced humor. Despite its potential, the film underscored the need for improvement in delivering a more engaging and seamless cinematic experience, leaving ample room for enhancement in upcoming endeavors. In conclusion; I would say: don't waste your time and money on this movie. Go to another one.