Critic Shelf
Home
Discover
Sign in
Your rating
Tap a star, half steps count

Panic Mechanic

Nov 29, 1996 · 1h 41m
No ratings yet
Comedy

PLOT

When Hanky Pranky (alias Schucks), star of a candid camera TV show, loses his job to affirmative action, he applies for a job at a stress academy. It´s not long before Schucks discovers his new boss, Jack Paddaman, is as crooked as they come, but it´s too late: the employment contract is signed and sealed.A year passes, and Schucks is no better off. However, his candid camera videos, which poke fun at all sectors of post-1994 South Africa, prove a big hit with stressed-out government ministers. When the president asks Paddaman to make a movie to benefit street children, Schucks and his pals do all the hard work while Paddaman plans how he can get hold of the profits from the video sales. Add a scatterbrained secretary, a lovelorn traffic cop and a cunning street child and you have a roll-in-the aisles comedy with a distinctly South African flavour.

REVIEWS

View reviews

CAST

Leon Schuster
Schuks
Frantz Dobrowsky
Jack Paddaman
Tolla Van Der Merwe
Jakob
Nana Stapelberg
Gloria Haasbroek
Themba Ndaba
Billy
Taryn Sudding
Annie / Various characters
John Robbie
Himself
Sello Sebotsane
Hijacker
Directed by David Lister

DETAILS

Status
Released
Original language
EN
Budget
$262,987
Revenue
$949,678
Country
ZA

SIMILAR TITLES

Ass Clowns: Constipated
2021
Inspector Gadget
1999
The Gangsters
1913
Dr. Quackenbush Skis the Headwall
1942
Silent Movie
1976
Carambola's Philosophy: In the Right Pocket
1975
Critic Shelf
Rate what you watch, show it on shelves, and compare taste with anyone. Film and TV data from TMDB.
ACCOUNT
Sign in
Create account
Delete account
COMPANY
About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
© 2026 Critic Shelf
WATCH · RATE · COMPARE