Disaster Holiday

I replay enjoyed this movie, it reminds me of Adam Sandler movies. It was really funny to watch with my family. I will give it a month and rewatch. Critics commended the film's humor, scenic South African setting, and the chemistry among the cast. The story, while simple, resonates with families, offering both laughs and touching moments. It's been described as perfect for a cozy family movie night, balancing comedy with meaningful messages . Disaster Holiday (2024), directed by Rethabile Ramaphakela, is a family comedy that premiered on December 13, 2024, on Netflix. The film follows a workaholic father who attempts to bond with his kids by disguising a work trip to Durban as a family road trip. Chaos ensues as the dual-purpose vacation tests his ability to balance personal and professional commitments.

Needless to say that I was not familiar with the 2024 South African comedy "Disaster Holiday" from writer and director Rethabile Ramaphakela prior to sitting down and watching it. But I figured that since it was a comedy, then chances were fair for it being a worthwhile movie.

Well, the storyline sort of fell short of being funny. There weren't really much of anything that made me laugh throughout the course of the 93 minutes that the movie ran for. I am not saying that it was a bad movie, because it certainly was watchable, but it just wasn't a funny movie. So I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed with the outcome of the storyline.

Of course I was not familiar with the cast ensemble in the movie. And being unfamiliar with the cast ensemble is actually something I enjoy whenever I watch a movie. I will say that the acting performances in the movie were fair.

The going back and forth between English and whatever language they were speaking in the movie was sort of straining to sit through. Pick one or the other, as it makes for a more streamlined viewing experience.

While I did manage to sit through the entire movie, I was not overly entertained. And this is definitely not a movie that I will be returning to watch a second time.

My rating of writer and director Rethabile Ramaphakela's 2024 movie "Disaster Holiday" lands on a four out of ten stars.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable family film. Think National Lampoon, RV or any Adam Sandler film.

Set in South Africa and whilst mostly English it does showcase both Zulu and Xhosa. It's nice to see films produced in different countries featured on a mainstream streaming platform.

Some great one liners and genuinely funny laugh out loud moments following a family on a disastrous road trip instead of a luxury holiday in Zanzibar. The lead actor is brilliant and the supporting cast are great.

Tackles step parent issues and co parenting in a light hearted manner. Definitely give it a go for family movie night!

Very well done, acting is top notch. Robin Williams premise is reworked a bit as there is no RV only an SUV, but the rest is the same. It's a nice family show however, and his antagonist is wonderfully annoying. The pit falls, too much luggage, bathroom breaks, aggravating siblings, and road hazards are hilarious and well timed. We've all been there! Will he make it to the meeting with a great pitch or be left without a job? His family is unaware of the real reason their plans have been changed from Zanzibar to Durban and he tries to keep everyone in the dark about it. Will his family finally call him Baba instead of by his first name of Joseph? Will they rally around him in the end to provide the support he needs to make his pitch successful? Watch and find out! Enjoy the journey as much as we did!

This was better than expected. Sure it rehashed a lot of what you have seen from Hollywood comedies, particulary family comedies, but it was done very well. I look for and appreciate nuance in films. Everything doesn't have to be over the top or pretentious. This had enough comedic nuance to keep me fully engaged.

The acting was very good for what was asked of the actors and actresses who were given a fairly light script to work with. The on scene location filming, cinematography and music were on point. The direction, writing and script were good.

Overall I feel its well worth a watch. Its not trying to be too much and if you approach it that way you should have a good time watching it.