SPUD 2: THE MADNESS CONTINUES
South Africa, 2013, 91 minutes, Colour.
John Cleese, Troye Sivan.
Directed by Donovan Marsh.
The original Spud was a success in South Africa and had worldwide release. Part of the draw was in casting John Cleese as an eccentric teacher, The Guv. The film was set in a rather exclusive school, focusing on John Milton, Spud (Troye Sivan) who had won a scholarship there. The film showed his ups and downs with his fellow students, the touches of bullying, the dormitories, sports sequences, his desire to be an actor. There are clashes with the headmaster and with a bullying teacher in charge of discipline.
This sequel takes up the themes a year later – and with the same cast.
Spud’s parents are thinking of migrating to the United Kingdom because of difficulties in South Africa. However, John wants to stay at the school. He does.
There are similar shenanigans as in the first film but, at this stage, the boys are very much preoccupied by sex. Lots of scenes where the boys discuss sex. Also a dance where girls from the neighbouring school come but it is sabotaged.
Not only is there the group to which Spud belongs, rebels, full of tricks, pranks, disturbance. They are frequently reprimanded by the headmaster as well as by the discipline master – whom they target, stranding his car, embarrassing him with the headmaster. They also take charge of a group of first years, humiliating them in the eyes of the other boys – which gives the tormented boys a whole lot of credit and credibility with the other students because of their experiences. They are used for various pranks, especially sabotaging the dance.
The discipline master has a hold over Spud, wanting information from him, threatening that he will lose his scholarship.
The Latin part of the film becomes a little more serious, especially when the senior students and the discipline master track down the rebels who are brought before the headmaster, some expelled and others on suspension. Spud’s parents are angry with him but he defies them, threatening to divorce them should they return to the United Kingdom.
Ultimately, the rebels, with the help of the Guv, are able to turn the tables, taking time off for a food-eating competition, getting a video compromising the discipline master, the Guv bringing it to the headmaster.
The discipline master is sacked in disgrace. The boys graduate, Spud even getting an award for English.
There was a third film in the series, Spud 3: Learning to Fly.
