Good Man in Africa, A MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -2 1/2

Morgan Leafy (Colin Friels) is British First Secretary to a newly independent country in Africa. His boss, the British Minister Arthur Fanshawe (John Lithgow), hopes to win the oil rights from president-elect Sam Adekunle (Louis Gossett,Jr.). When Leafy is caught in an affair with Celia (Joanne Whalley-Kilmer), Sam's wife, he is offered a deal. Sam will forget the affair if Leafy can convince the last board member, Dr. Murray (Sean Connery), to approve a construction contract that will benefit Sam's company. The embarrassing fact, however, is that the highly respected Dr. Murray has recently treated Leafy for venereal disease. Complicating Leafy's life further, Fanshawe's maid is struck by lightning in Fanshawe's driveway. Local superstition requires a special ceremony before the body can be moved, and Fanshawe orders Leafy to handle the situation before a royal guest visits. Leafy's humorous attempts to deal with the problems provide mild amusement, but the episodic plot is not easy to follow.

Along with drinking heavily, Leafy leads a promiscuous lifestyle that includes a native mistress, an affair with Fanshawe's daughter and another with Sam's wife. Slowed down by a bout with venereal disease, he celebrates its cure in an affair with Celia. His visit to the doctor is treated comically, although without nudity. Dr. Murray, by contrast, helps others in a native clinic, has strong personal opinions and sticks to them. He admonishes Leafy's bad manners towards the natives and encourages him to "learn about the place you live." Eventually, Murray seems to influence Leafy to change. Sam, the native president-elect is a politically smart and greedy college professor, a sharp contrast to other natives. Christmas decorations are hung by a native to "celebrate the joyous birth of our Lord Jesus Christ." Still, the abundance of profanity and comical treatment of a promiscuous lifestyle send out wrong messages.

Preview Reviewer: Paul R. Bicking
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures, 9247 Alden Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210