Laughter Lost as Benny and Mice Return To Bali

Jakarta - Well-known comic strip characters Benny and Mice have embarked on their second adventure to Bali in a new book that has the same vigor as its predecessor but lacks its sarcastic wit.

Benny Rachmadi and his colleague Muhammad Misrad gained prominence as comic artists in 2003 when their creation — a cartoon strip based on their own experiences of living in Indonesia — was given a regular spot in the Sunday edition of the national Kompas daily.

Their creation was titled “Benny and Mice” and features characters that bear their likeness and humor. The two traveled around Indonesia with comedic naivety and sarcasm, quipping about the habits and beliefs of the people they met.

Benny and Mice`s 2008 book “Lost in Bali” was highly successful and led the way for their latest release, “Lost in Bali 2.”

To surpass the heights of the original book`s funniest moments would be difficult, as unfortunately — or fortunately — there are only a limited number of things to poke fun at on the island of the gods; namely the tourists and the locals who prey on them. The result is a book that lacks the perception and and laugh-out-loud humor of the artists` other publications, “Jakarta Luar Dalem” (“Jakarta Inside and Out”) and “Jakarta Atas Bawah” (“Jakarta Top to Bottom”).

In a typical touristy gag, Benny and Mice walk around Bali, trying to locate a hotel, while around them the streets are plastered with posters and promotional boards for bungalows, guest houses and homestays. They loudly express their desire to sleep in an expensive hotel overlooking a rice field.

In another, Benny and Mice pose in front of the Hard Rock Hotel giant surfboard logo, unsuccessfully trying to take a picture of themselves.

These types of Benny-and-Mice-as-tourists stories have a bit of a “things to do in Bali” feel. It might have worked as an amusing anecdote among friends, but as a comic the charm and humor is lost. This is further emphasized in stories where Benny and Mice ride a motorcycle around the countryside, with comments such as “We cruise the exotic countryside of Ubud,” and “The air is so cool.” One cannot help but feel that the tourists of the original “Lost in Bali” would have had a wittier line at hand.

A story with a taxi driver, who says, “If the room is air-conditioned, it is nicer if you have a `blanket` ” — using street slang to offer them the company of a prostitute, feels wasted. The duo rebuffs him, “We are married.” Meanwhile, two horns protrude from the driver`s head, which seems to be the extent of the story`s humor.

Still, it might be a little unfair to compare “Lost in Bali 2” to its predecessor. It is far from boring, and hands-down a worthy successor to the classic Indonesia strip “Om Pasikom, also from Kompas. When “Lost in Bali 2” manages to insert a joke that has not already been used in the original, it is still chuckle-worthy — in one instance, Benny and Mice comment on the camel-riding tourists on the beach with “When did the camels become the star of the beach?”

The jokes about Bali`s romantic qualities are also of the highest caliber. In front of a couple who tells them “We got together in Bali,” Benny says, “So what? People get together in bajajs.”

Benny and Mice comics have been successful, not just because there was an abundance of material at hand, but because the spot-on observations were accompanied by hilarious commentary. “Lost in Bali” manages to follow suit because of the freshness of the surroundings. The jokes in this sequel, however, often fall flat. Anyone who has traveled to Bali will identify with the characters` experiences and perhaps with their train of thought. The problem is that the jokes are just simply not clever enough.

Benny and Mice have been seven volumes. With only one that is subpar, a long career is still possible for the writers. “Lost in Bali 2,” may not be up to their standard, but repeated readings of their Jakarta escapades still make tears of laughter flow. Marcel Thee

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.com

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