Agak Laen

Muhadkly Acho's most impressive work to date is undoubtedly "Agak Laen." This film stands out as an unexpectedly powerful piece that adeptly blends multiple genres while maintaining a well-balanced mix of humor and heartfelt moments. It represents a rare breed of comedy that consistently delivers laughs throughout its runtime, thanks in large part to the remarkable chemistry among its four lead actors. Acho brings boundless energy to the project, crafting a comedy that resonates with genuine humor and enthusiasm. Although the film does include some noticeable product placements that might be off-putting to some, this minor flaw does not detract from its overall success. "Agak Laen" is a film that is both smart and silly, courageous and conceptual, satirical and irreverent, yet deeply rooted in its character development. It's another standout entry from Imajinari that truly deserves a greater level of attention and appreciation.

To be honest, I don't like Indonesian comedy films, which usually consist of empty jokes that have no content and are just weird.

But this time was a little different, I and the audience at the cinema were made to laugh with jokes that strangely made me laugh.

As for the plot, actually the plot in a comedy film doesn't really matter, because comedy films aim to entertain the audience.

But the plot in this film is arguably unpredictable, all the plot in this film always contains elements of jokes and there is even a bit of scathing criticism of the Indonesian government that can be said to be brave. And the most annoying thing is that there are several sponsors in the story in this film.

8/10 A film that made me interested in Indonesian comedy films again.

When I was walking in to watch this movie, I didn't have any big expectation. I thought , "ah maybe this is just like most of the comedy movie where joke is in 1-3 scenes." But I was wrong, all of these comedy movies that I have watched, I've never been laughing this hard all time. Every scenes are delivered with really good punch joke where whole cinema laughing constantly. They are milking bataknese stereotype joke with bataknese accent so hard hahaha. This movie is definitely rewatchable. Although this film might be hard for you who watch dub or sub since most of the jokes are delivered in Indonesian but it's okay, just bring your Indonesian friend to watch together haha.

'Agak Laen' may be a bit all over the place in terms of tone, but it is quite a fun flick all in all. It's well made too, it oddly gave me vibes of 2018's 'The Festival', particularly lighting-wise, for some reason - I didn't think I'd be making a connection between those two!

Oki Rengga, Boris Bokir, Indra Jegel and Bene Dion make for good casting, they fit as a four and do come across as a friends group. Rengga and Bokir are the standouts, for me. Arie Kriting is the one I'd rank highest of the other cast members; all of whom are absolutely fine, at worst.

The plot is a strange choice, I gotta say, for a comedy, I'm not convinced by how they blend it together but it works; even if the more sincere moments didn't quite hit as intended, at least to me. Oki's part at the conclusion is the closest a non-comedy bit came to hitting.

Also, the product placement is kinda mad, proper egregious stuff. This is my first taste of Indonesian cinema, I assume this is the norm? I only guess that because I do know that their football broadcasts are/were ad-heavy; that's how I know what Torabika is, lol.

Agak Laen is a refreshing take on the comedy genre, offering a unique storyline that blends humor with thought-provoking social commentary. The film stands out for its clever script and an eccentric cast of characters who add depth to the narrative, each bringing their own quirks to the story. This balance between lighthearted comedy and moments of introspection gives the film an enjoyable, layered quality.

The humor in Agak Laen often leans on witty dialogue and situational comedy, making it relatable and enjoyable for a wide audience. The film's ability to highlight everyday experiences with a comedic twist keeps viewers engaged while also encouraging them to think about larger themes. The performances are authentic, with each actor adding a unique charm to their roles, and the direction brings out both the fun and sincerity in each scene.

While it might not aim to be a blockbuster, Agak Laen shines with its fresh approach, creative storytelling, and entertaining mix of humor and social insight. It's a film that will leave audiences smiling and reflecting on its messages.