Urban Safari

Oh, the things you can do with no budget and an inspired script. This is a sweet, funny, delightfull little satire that will keep a smile on your face for sure.

Joe and Candy Johnson are climbing the social ladder in NYC. Candy is doing most of the pushing, as she fudged Joe's resume to land him a great job in an architectural firm. But, Candy now wants Joe to be a partner. It's no wonder. She spends money like nobody's business and has them firmly in deep debt. Nevertheless, Candy tells Joe's boss two things at a dinner. One, she and her husband are going on an African safari. And, two, Joe will tell the company about his great money-saving toilet idea when they get back. The truth is, the couple are going to the Catskills and Joe's commode idea is not yet finished. But, on the way to their vacation, they remember leaving key evidence of their true vacation destination in full sight. The couple head back home to their posh apartment, knowing everyone in the building has keys and may be coming into their place. Everyone indeed, from Russian mobsters, clandestine couples, their daughter and her boyfriend, and more. They become trapped in their apartment's closets and bathrooms, as more and more people use their place for a meeting ground. Can they get out alive and well and still have Joe land his dream job? This movie has great concepts and some laughs, yes. Some will find the film right up their alley. But, this viewer found it to be too sleazy for broad recommendation. The actors are indeed wonderful and funny but the situations they are thrown in are oversexed and distasteful, at times. If anyone wants to take a chance on the film, just beware. You will find yourself laughing but some parts may leave you a bit disgusted as well.

Would you believe that this delightful little comedy is mainly a Swiss/Canadian production? Finally there is Reto Salimbeni, a Swiss director who does not make your usual Helvetic die hard drama that takes place high up in the mountains. Far from it!

Urban Safari is a witty black comedy about a business-career family in a big city. They cannot afford the holiday they think everyone else is expecting them to have - so they go on a fake vacation in their own apartment. With quite some distractions, difficulties, twists and turns I might add. The snooping neighbours being just one of their minor problems.

Sure this film isn't the big blockbuster and being a comedy it never had a chance to win any prices. But still: why is no one putting this movie on DVD??? I'm waiting for it for years!