54. Deliha 2; movie review

DELIHA 2
Cert PG
106 mins
BBFC advice: Mild bad language, sex references

Friday afternoon and, following the funeral of a childhood neighbour and ahead of London birthday party, I seized the opportunity of a Turkish tick-off in north London.
Gupse Ozay directed, wrote and stars as Zeliha - an optimist who gathers empathy by bouncing back despite scores of setbacks.
Her vivacious personality certainly help this to be better than many of the Turkish comedies I have endured over the years.
Zeliha is desperate to secure a job so she can save enough money for a trip to Paris where her father died.
Sadly, despite her best intentions and lovable nature, she keeps fouling up - until a new restaurant opens just down the street and is run by a talented chef (Aksel Bonfil) and Zeliha's friend (Eda Ice).
Initially, despite their best efforts, the new eatery struggles to make a mark but is sparked into life by Zeliha's naive keenness on the patrons having a good time.
Therefore, off her own back, she brings in traditional musicians and thrusts po-faced Japanese tourists on to the dance floor.
Everyone with whom Zeliha comes into contact can't fail to be charmed by her childlike enthusiasm albeit if it is tempered with occasional irritation.
This goes for the audience too. Her antics prompted a good few giggles from me and huge laughter from the family seated behind me at Lee Valley Odeon.
Having said final farewells to a family friend earlier in the day, she provided just the pick-me-up I needed.
Indeed, I was in exactly the right place for Ozay's comedy to work. Her character simply refuses to allow long faces.
This picture isn't a complex classic nor is it trying to be. Deliha 2 simply reaches for the funny bone and the heart and finds them both.

Reasons to watch: funny moments and a good heart
Reasons to avoid: some might find the slapstick-style humour too childish

Laughs: four for me more for the Turkish speakers
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 6.5/10

The big question - Why are Turkish comedy characters always seen as ugly (Gupse Ozay certainly is not in real life) ?

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