AFRIFF 2014 Review: COZ OV MONI 2 Is A Ridiculously Good Time

Founder and Editor; Toronto, Canada (@AnarchistTodd)
AFRIFF 2014 Review: COZ OV MONI 2 Is A Ridiculously Good Time
Several days on from screening Ghanaian musical duo FOKN Bois' Coz Ov Moni 2: Fokn Revenge - a film they bill as "the world's second first pidgen musical" - I am left with one certainty and one question. The certainty? That was one big bag of fun. The question? But is it a movie, really? And I am increasingly convinced that the answer to the question is "I don't give a shit." Throw aside all but the most cursory notions of narrative and structure here - lord knows they have - and be prepared to be propelled along by the insanely catchy music and the unstoppably cheerful force of Wanlov The Kubalor, musical partner M3nsa and the duo's simply massive charisma.

The story, such as it goes, is this: The previous film outing (as we are informed by a backlit narrator) concluded with the central duo being robbed and now they want revenge. And their money back. But first they want to eat. Because food is good. They like it. It makes them happy. And, if we're being honest, they seem far more interested in food than in revenge of any sort and are only really pursuing the revenge bit between meals out of some sense of duty or obligation.

Playing out as a series of vignettes linked by this most cursory of stories Coz Ov Moni 2 is essentially a series of music videos laced together by only the most basic narrative elements. Could you call it a a vanity project? Absolutely, yes. Could you criticize its lack of form and structure? Of course. It has almost none of that. But what it does have is such an infectiously playful spirit, two immensely likeable leads, some amazing music, and a technical crew working on an absolute shoestring in hostile conditions and putting many of their better financed brethren in this part of the world to shame while doing so. It looks great, it sounds fantastic, and it utterly defies its audience to not leave the room with a big ol' smile plastered on after the final credits roll.

Though definitely stronger in its first half than in its second, Coz Ov Moni 2 knows better than to overstay its welcome and - clocking in right around the one hour mark - gets out before it gets stale. It's obvious that all involved have the raw talent to do something more structured and 'proper' should they ever choose to do so but, frankly, I don't know if I'd ever want them to as doing so would strip them of the shambling charm that is their greatest strength. Is it a 'proper' movie? Probably not and that's exactly what makes it so much damn fun.
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coz ov moni 2fokn boisfokn revengeghanam3nsamusicalwanlov the kubulor

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