The Umbrella Men

Directed by John Barker, The Umbrella Men follows Jaques De Silva’s Jerome as he returns home to Cape Town after the death of his father and subsequently discovers that he now owns a local club – with the storyline detailing Jerome’s eventual efforts at coming up with the money needed to hold onto said club. It’s a familiar setup that is, for the most part, employed to perfectly watchable effect by Barker, as the filmmaker, armed with his and Philip Roberts’ screenplay, delivers an affable endeavor that benefits from its compelling visuals and assortment of agreeable performances – with, in terms of the latter, De Silva turning in charismatic work that goes a long way towards elevating the proceedings on a regular basis (ie he’s just so charming). And although Barker’s deliberate, meandering sensibilities pave the way for a less-than-engrossing midsection, The Umbrella Men‘s second-act emphasis on appealing elements, including Jerome’s relationship with a local (Shamilla Miller’s Keisha) and the protagonists’ preparations for a daring robbery, prove effective at sustain the viewer’s interest through the picture’s weaker stretches. The satisfying conclusion, which is preceded by a heist-based climax that is perhaps not quite as enthralling as Barker has intended (ie its tension is drained by the filmmaker’s overly lighthearted approach), ensures that The Umbrella Man finishes on a relatively strong note, with the final result a somewhat uneven yet mostly entertaining endeavor that compensates for its far-from-fresh narrative with an atmosphere bursting with personality.

**1/2 out of ****