REVIEW | All heart and genuine laughs: The late Bradley Olivier's Frankie & Felipé packs an emotional punch

Franklin Blaze (Bradley Olivier) is a hard-working, successful man from a poor background, which he hides from his fiancée, Kim Fortuin (Kim Syster), and colleagues. When his half-brother, Felipé Baadjies, sneaks out of his house, his impending wedding and work reputation are in jeopardy. The desperate Felipé (Solomon Cupido) threatens to expose his brother Frankie's secret if he does not help him with money he owes a cruel loan shark. Frankie tries to appease Felipé by including him in the wedding, a decision he soon regrets. Felipé is not the kind of fool the wealthy, sophisticated Fortuin family wants near their daughter.

Actors Solomon Cupido and the late Bradley Olivier go way back, having first met in 2001 when they were both still in high school. The two went on to study drama together at university. Their friendship blossomed into a fruitful professional relationship, with the two also enjoying individual successes. It is fitting that they play brothers in their new film Frankie & Felipé. They also produced the movie and wrote it with Brett Michael Innes. Their on-screen chemistry is undeniable and the way they bounce off each other feels natural. Though Frankie & Felipé is a rather basic romantic comedy, it still packs a lot of heart and genuine laughs.

The film is not the first time that Olivier and Cupido have written and played a comedy duo. The two used the dynamic of their comedy characters Spacekriek en Dakskroef, as a foundation for developing Frankie and Felipé. This is their first full-length script together. Though labelled a romantic comedy, the family drama aspect of the film is prominent; the reconciliation between the two main leads is an essential arc in the film. Frankie & Felipé premiered at the Silwerskerm Film Festival and it was an emotional moment for everyone involved in the film; Olivier died earlier this year at the age of 36.

Frankie & Felipé tells the tale of two once inseparable half-brothers who are split apart after one of them (Frankie) is taken away to a home for lost boys. Later in life, Frankie has made a name for himself in the business world (though the film doesn't really show how), while Felipé is a lowly perfume salesman. Both brothers have financial troubles – Frankie has accumulated over R100 000 in debt, while Felipé owes a menacing loan shark. When Felipé turns to his estranged brother for help, he threatens to ruin the delicate life Frankie has created for himself, with his wedding day fast approaching. Frankie is forced to confront his past and make amends with the people he once knew as his family.

Frankie's character arc is the most important one in the film. With Felipé's arrival, he experiences the warmth of his own family once again, along with a lot of panic. He also reconnects with his roots and becomes more genuine and honest. The conclusion to Frankie's arc and the film as a whole is satisfying and ties a neat bow around the whole story.

The film can be funny at times, but the humour does not land consistently. The jokes are often silly and puerile and rely too much on cliched writing that frequents Hollywood comedies. The film is at its funniest when it breaks away from those cliches. There are some laugh-out-loud moments, and the performances by Solomon Cupido and Danny Ross are genuinely hilarious. Cupido is naturally funny and is a true comedic talent; he shines in every scene. Ross's character is intentionally ridiculous; he plays a pseudo-enlightened guru who feuds with Felipé. 

The cinematography by Nick Burton Moore is used efficiently for the film's visual gags, resulting in several unspoken funny moments. There are also visually pleasing moments of beautiful shot composition and framing, especially in scenes with action. But for the most part, the film does look quite plain; the technical execution is overall pretty straightforward. The shooting locations are used to an interesting effect: they show the different sides of Cape Town, making the city feel like a character in itself. This also emphasises the disparity between the worlds of Frankie and Felipé.

Frankie & Felipe mostly plays it safe and that doesn't always count in its favour. It tries to reach the same standard as your average rom-com and it mostly succeeds, at the cost of feeling slightly derivative. Yet, the film shows potential, and it manages to reflect a unique Cape Town experience.

Frankie & Felipé is a testament to what Olivier and Cupido can do together and what they still could have achieved. The film's greatest strength is its diverse representation of coloured identities, which breaks away from stereotypical depictions. It's a light film for easy entertainment that still packs an emotional punch. Though its humour, story and characterisation rely on well-worn tropes, there is a local authenticity to the writing that makes the film somewhat refreshing. Frankie & Felipe is a positive sign that Afrikaans SA films are moving in a more diverse direction, with stronger and more organic local stories.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE: