Chief Zabu

Neil Cohen's socio-political satire is an indie gem that I found to be downright hysterical. The writing especially is remarkable in the way that the two bumbling pseudo-politicians (played by Zach Norman and the late Allen Garfield) manage to keep up a fast-paced dialogue that on the surface means absolutely nothing yet still holds a deeper commentary about the American Dream. The two actors clearly have great chemistry which allows their constant banter to feel natural and all the more real. For a truly independent film, it definitely holds up to mainstream cinema.

Chief Zabu is a timeless 80's satire that will continue to stay relevant throughout the years no matter the audience. In this film two realtors dream of having power in the political field and decide to capitalize on a Polynesian island in order to help them get to the top. Writers Neil Cohen and Zack Norman did a beautiful job when it came to writing a plot that would stay significant throughout time due to the constant crave of power and success in society. The writing included a perfect amount of humor to make the film comical but also continue to stay meaningful in its motifs. It's evident throughout the film that Cohen and Norman put a great amount of thought into each dialogue and scene in order to make the film so smooth as if this were happening in real life. Based on the amazing work done by Cohen and Norman I truly believe this film will continue to impress later generations as well.

Chief Zabu is a great satire that was almost completely filmed in the 80's, but finally saw a release three decades later. As a result, the tone and writing of the film is very reminiscent of timeless works of Harold Ramis and John Landis. The cast is outstanding, they perfectly played real estate moguls who bumble their way into a landmark real estate deal with an island nation. Many of the actors evoke the pitch-perfect comedic timing they used in other films and shows they stole the show in, like Romancing the Stone and M*A*S*H. Overall, this is a nostalgic time capsule of its era; they don't make movies quite like this anymore.

Ever thought about a world where your favorite movies never made it to the big screen? Imagine uncovering, dusting off and watching for the first time Ferris Bueller's Day Off or The Breakfast Club. Some movies go through the whole production process but never get released to the public. This was the case for Chief Zabu. If you're an analytical film-goer who is typically stimulated by political intrigue than Zabu might be your 30 year old lost treasure. Despite its age, it maintains visual integrity as if it had the backing of a major studio. The film follows Ben Sydney (played by Allen Garfield) who is a real estate developer that lacks the ability to grasp the bigger picture of things. It also follows Sammy (played by Zack Norman), a trusty employee to Sidney, who aspires to be a stand up comedian rather than work in real estate his whole life. The duo believe they have struck gold when they are swindled by George Dankworth (played by Allan Arbus) to finance a deal involving a tiny, young, Polynesian island called Tiberaku. This deal will supposedly allow Ben and Sammy to profit from their soft drink and fishing rights they would be obtaining…as long as Chief Henri Zabu (played by Manu Tupou) gets the UN to approve them as an Independent nation. Though the central focus of the film is this deal revolving around Tiberaku, it's really about the American Dream and what being successful really means. A treasure is a treasure because it maintains timeless value. That's exactly why Chief Zabu is a lost treasure and is incredibly relevant today.

I truly believe that the most important element in any movie is the talent's individual performance and the chemistry of the cast. This combination creates a sense of believability, and Chief Zabu knocks it out the park in both aspects. Allen Garfield and Zack Norman do a stellar job as the main characters that kept me fully engaged throughout the film. While the writing proves to be very witty and off the walls, these performances make the film a bit more grounded and provide viewers with an in-depth look at the morality of these characters. The exchanges among the cast makes for a very humorous environment, something that can easily fall short in other comedy films. The ensemble cast does a great job playing off of one another and it really shows. Even four decades after its original conception, it's no surprise the comedy still holds its own in every regard.