Quickie Express
Encyclopedia
Quickie Express is a 2007 Indonesian movie. Directed by Dimas Djayadiningrat, it stars Tora Sudiro
, Aming, Sandra Dewi
, and Lukman Sardi. It premiered on 22 November 2007 and won Best Film at the Jakarta International Film Festival
. It has been noted as spawning numerous Indonesian sex comedies.
), a young ne'er-do-well, finds a job as gigolo at the Quickie Express; at Quickie Express, all gigolos pose as pizza delivery boys. After training, he and fellow gigolos Marley (Aming) and Piktor (Lukman Sardi) begin at the bottom of the hierarchy, servicing less desirable clients. For satisfying them, the three are soon promoted.
While at a bar, the trio meet Lila (Sandra Dewi
); after she is injured in a bar fight, Jojo brings her home to keep an eye on her. Although she leaves before he wakes up, they not long afterwards meet at the hospital when Marley has to have a piranha
removed-he had thought the fish was a Flowerhorn cichlid and was bathing with it. Jojo and Lila begin dating; at the same time, Mona (Ira Maya Sopha) takes Jojo to be her exclusive gigolo.
At Lila's birthday party, Jojo learns that she is the daughter of Mona; he also meets her closeted
gangster father, Jan Pieter Gunarto (Rudy Wowor). He attempts to break off his contract with Mona so he can be with Lila, but she threatens to tell her daughter about his status as a gigolo. At the same time, Gunarto attempts to make advances on him but is turned down.
Unable to cope with Mona's sexual demands when he loves Lila, Jojo visits her at work and tells her that he is a gigolo; she does not accept this, and breaks of their relationship. Gunarto tells his bear Mattheo (Tino Saroenggalo) of his heartbreak. Mattheo becomes enraged with jealousy and drives to Quickie Express to find Jojo, leaving Gunarto behind.
After ransacking the building, Mattheo chases Jojo through Jakarta to a fairground where he corners Jojo on a Ferris wheel
. Jojo falls, but is caught by a trampoline erected by Marley and Piktor; when the Ferris wheel starts moving, Mattheo falls to his death. Jojo later becomes a pimp
for Quickie Express, while Marley and Piktor find work elsewhere.
noted that Quickie Express was a "dark comedy" and Iwan Seti and Drupadi of The Jakarta Post
write that it has been lumped with sex comedies that were produced after its success. However, the producer Nia Dinata
said that she saw the film as a "love story with social content".
, where it won Best Film. The film sparked a wave of sex themed comedies, and received mixed to positive reviews.
A reviewer for the Indonesian popular culture news site KapanLagi.com wrote that the film had a light but enjoyable plot that was ruined by the casts' lack of acting skill. Heated criticism was directed at Dewi's character, who was described as "a young doctor who talks like a high school student". The review summarized that it would be a good film for those who enjoyed jokes about sex.
Fajar Anugerah for Detik.com wrote that Quickie Express was a different offering than the then-usual horror movies, giving moviegoers a chance to laugh. He noted that the characterization was complex but generally well carried out. He gave the acting a mixed review, with Sudiro and Aming acting as if they were "in a TV show".; acting by the Sardi, Pakusadewo, and Dewi was praised, with Dewi's character being described as "arousing".
Paolo Bertolin, writing for the Udine Far East Film Festival, called Quickie Express "intriguing and alluring" and screenwriter Joko Anwar
's "most mature and rounded work". He wrote that the final act could "make more than one jaw drop" and is especially surprising as the film comes from the largest predominantly Muslim country in the world.
Tora Sudiro
Tora Sudiro is an Indonesian actor. His popular TV comedy show, Extravaganza, is broadcast by Trans TV. He has also appeared in Indonesian TV dramas such as 2006's Dunia Tanpa Koma...
, Aming, Sandra Dewi
Sandra Dewi
Monica Nicholle Sandra Dewi Gunawan Basri , better known as Sandra Dewi, is an Indonesian model and actress.-Biography:...
, and Lukman Sardi. It premiered on 22 November 2007 and won Best Film at the Jakarta International Film Festival
Jakarta International Film Festival
The Jakarta International Film Festival is the major film festival of Indonesia held every December in the capital, Jakarta, since 1999....
. It has been noted as spawning numerous Indonesian sex comedies.
Plot
Jojo (Tora SudiroTora Sudiro
Tora Sudiro is an Indonesian actor. His popular TV comedy show, Extravaganza, is broadcast by Trans TV. He has also appeared in Indonesian TV dramas such as 2006's Dunia Tanpa Koma...
), a young ne'er-do-well, finds a job as gigolo at the Quickie Express; at Quickie Express, all gigolos pose as pizza delivery boys. After training, he and fellow gigolos Marley (Aming) and Piktor (Lukman Sardi) begin at the bottom of the hierarchy, servicing less desirable clients. For satisfying them, the three are soon promoted.
While at a bar, the trio meet Lila (Sandra Dewi
Sandra Dewi
Monica Nicholle Sandra Dewi Gunawan Basri , better known as Sandra Dewi, is an Indonesian model and actress.-Biography:...
); after she is injured in a bar fight, Jojo brings her home to keep an eye on her. Although she leaves before he wakes up, they not long afterwards meet at the hospital when Marley has to have a piranha
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
removed-he had thought the fish was a Flowerhorn cichlid and was bathing with it. Jojo and Lila begin dating; at the same time, Mona (Ira Maya Sopha) takes Jojo to be her exclusive gigolo.
At Lila's birthday party, Jojo learns that she is the daughter of Mona; he also meets her closeted
Closeted
Closeted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
gangster father, Jan Pieter Gunarto (Rudy Wowor). He attempts to break off his contract with Mona so he can be with Lila, but she threatens to tell her daughter about his status as a gigolo. At the same time, Gunarto attempts to make advances on him but is turned down.
Unable to cope with Mona's sexual demands when he loves Lila, Jojo visits her at work and tells her that he is a gigolo; she does not accept this, and breaks of their relationship. Gunarto tells his bear Mattheo (Tino Saroenggalo) of his heartbreak. Mattheo becomes enraged with jealousy and drives to Quickie Express to find Jojo, leaving Gunarto behind.
After ransacking the building, Mattheo chases Jojo through Jakarta to a fairground where he corners Jojo on a Ferris wheel
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
. Jojo falls, but is caught by a trampoline erected by Marley and Piktor; when the Ferris wheel starts moving, Mattheo falls to his death. Jojo later becomes a pimp
Pimp
A pimp is an agent for prostitutes who collects part of their earnings. The pimp may receive this money in return for advertising services, physical protection, or for providing a location where she may engage clients...
for Quickie Express, while Marley and Piktor find work elsewhere.
Theme
The release for the film's run at 21 Cineplex21 Cineplex
21 Cineplex is the largest movie theater chain in Indonesia. It serves 29 cities in Indonesia.Along with the demands of the times, 21 Cineplex Group has conducted a number of improvements and innovations, among which are to form a network movie theater into 3 separate brands, namely Cinema 21,...
noted that Quickie Express was a "dark comedy" and Iwan Seti and Drupadi of The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post
The Jakarta Post is a daily English language newspaper in Indonesia. The paper is owned by PT Bina Media Tenggara, and the head office is in the nation's capital, Jakarta....
write that it has been lumped with sex comedies that were produced after its success. However, the producer Nia Dinata
Nia Dinata
Nurkurniati Aisyah Dewi , better known as Nia Dinata, is an award-winning Indonesian film director...
said that she saw the film as a "love story with social content".
Release and reception
Quickie Express received a wide release on 22 November 2007. It was also shown at the Jakarta International Film FestivalJakarta International Film Festival
The Jakarta International Film Festival is the major film festival of Indonesia held every December in the capital, Jakarta, since 1999....
, where it won Best Film. The film sparked a wave of sex themed comedies, and received mixed to positive reviews.
A reviewer for the Indonesian popular culture news site KapanLagi.com wrote that the film had a light but enjoyable plot that was ruined by the casts' lack of acting skill. Heated criticism was directed at Dewi's character, who was described as "a young doctor who talks like a high school student". The review summarized that it would be a good film for those who enjoyed jokes about sex.
Fajar Anugerah for Detik.com wrote that Quickie Express was a different offering than the then-usual horror movies, giving moviegoers a chance to laugh. He noted that the characterization was complex but generally well carried out. He gave the acting a mixed review, with Sudiro and Aming acting as if they were "in a TV show".; acting by the Sardi, Pakusadewo, and Dewi was praised, with Dewi's character being described as "arousing".
Paolo Bertolin, writing for the Udine Far East Film Festival, called Quickie Express "intriguing and alluring" and screenwriter Joko Anwar
Joko Anwar
-Early life:Joko Anwar was born in 3 January 1976 in a poor kampong in Medan, North Sumatera where he grew up watching kung fu movies and horror films. He had also written and directed plays as a student. He went to Institut Teknologi Bandung to study Aerospace Engineering because his family could...
's "most mature and rounded work". He wrote that the final act could "make more than one jaw drop" and is especially surprising as the film comes from the largest predominantly Muslim country in the world.