Not such a Happy ‘Chappie’

It seems pretty clear now: “Chappie” is not doing well. The new film from “District 9” director Neill Blomkamp that especially attracted attention – or rather, curiosity – over its use of Die Antwoord’s duo Ninja and Yolandi Visser has come and (almost) gone.

Since its release in the United States on March 6, critics have been unimpressed (only 31 percent voted in its favour, according to the site RottenTomatoes), while audience reviews have been kinder (64 percent).

However, the box office has been the meanest critic of all.

According to figures released by BoxOfficeMojo, the movie had grossed $25 million in the United States (as well as $33 million elsewhere in the world) by March 18, slipping quickly from its No. 1 ranking in the U.S. the previous weekend, its first, to No. 5. By contrast, “District 9” made $37 million in its first weekend in the U.S. and finally came out with $115 million in the U.S. for a total of $210 million worldwide.

Interestingly, Blomkamp’s less-ballyhooed second film, “Elysium,” pulled in $286 million globally.

Here are a cross-section of reviews from around the world (there are more than 150 listed on RottenTomatoes), starting with Anthony Lane of the New Yorker: “a phalanx of poor performances – the prime offenders being Ninja and Yo-Landi Visser.”

Jake Wilson, Sydney Morning Herald: “’Chappie’ is the most endearing of the anti-authoritarian science-fiction films that have become the speciality of South African writer-director Neill Blomkamp.”

Stephen Romei, The Australian: “Violent and disturbing, especially in the implications of its quite brilliant final twist.”

Stephen Rebello, Playboy Online: “You may find yourself wanting every character in this thing to die horribly. And quickly.”

Will Ashton, thecelebritycafe.com: “Ninja, meanwhile, is just not cut to be an actor.”

Talk of Ninja, so many rumours were floating around cyberspace of the singer not getting on with the other actors and people on set and allegedly causing trouble during filming that he wrote a reply last week on the site BoingBoing…

“Nah, me and ¥O-Landi Vi$$er stuck to ourselves in general,” he said. “We had our own cute little tent on each filming location coz we were writing rhymes for our DONKERMAG album at da time…”