# Warkop DKI Reborn (2016) Review: Nostalgia Beats the Jokes > Warkop DKI Reborn: Jangkrik Boss! Part 1 revives Indonesia's most famous comedy trio with new stars, and it is a cultural event more than a consistently funny film. Canonical: https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/warkop-dki-reborn-2016-review/ Published: 2026-07-22 Last updated: 2026-09-24 Author: Kaiser Khan — Founder & Editor Language: English Review basis: direct-viewing Spoilers: none Rating: 3/5 ## Verdict It depends. Fans of the original Warkop DKI will enjoy the affectionate callbacks and committed cast, but newcomers may find the gags broad and the story unfinished. ## Is Warkop DKI Reborn worth watching? **It depends on how much Warkop DKI means to you. Warkop DKI Reborn: Jangkrik Boss! Part 1 is an affectionate, energetic tribute to Indonesia's best-loved comedy trio, carried by committed impressions from its three leads, but its humour is hit-and-miss and its story is only half told.** For Indonesian audiences who grew up with Dono, Kasino and Indro, the film was an event, and it became one of the biggest local hits the country had ever seen. Viewers without that nostalgia will find a broad, uneven slapstick comedy that ends before it really resolves. ## What is Warkop DKI Reborn about? The film reimagines the legendary Warkop DKI trio, whose radio sketches and films made them household names in Indonesia from the 1970s onwards, for a new generation. Abimana Aryasatya plays Dono, [Vino G. Bastian](https://celluloidscore.com/stars/southeast-asia/indonesia/vino-g-bastian/) plays Kasino and Tora Sudiro plays Indro, three well-meaning but hopeless friends whose blunders land them in a mess far bigger than they can handle. The plot is a chaotic caper that strings together set pieces, chase scenes and comic routines, many of them nodding to the original films. Directed by Anggy Umbara, [Warkop DKI Reborn: Jangkrik Boss! Part 1](https://celluloidscore.com/movies/warkop-dki-reborn-2016/) is an Indonesian film in Indonesian, running 95 minutes. As the title suggests, it is the first half of a two-part story, and it stops rather than concludes, so viewers should be ready to continue with the sequel. ## Three actors, three icons The reboot's strongest asset is its casting. Abimana Aryasatya, Vino G. Bastian and Tora Sudiro are established screen actors, and each commits fully to recreating the mannerisms, voices and comic personas of the original trio. Abimana's Dono, in particular, is a remarkable piece of physical transformation, capturing the gentle, gawky charm that made the character so beloved. The three have clear chemistry, and the film is at its best when it simply lets them bounce off one another in the rapid, absurd banter that defined Warkop DKI. For longtime fans, seeing these characters brought back to the big screen with such evident affection is a pleasure in itself. ## Nostalgia as the main attraction Anggy Umbara directs with the understanding that callbacks are the point. Catchphrases, costume details and familiar situations from the original films are woven throughout, and the film treats its source with reverence rather than irony. That devotion makes it a warm experience for audiences who share it. It also exposes the film's limitations. Many jokes rely on recognising the reference rather than on fresh wit, and the humour ranges from genuinely funny to strained and dated. The action and slapstick set pieces are energetic but often overlong, and the film's pace sags whenever the story has to do more than connect one routine to the next. ## Where the laughs run thin The biggest problem is structural. Because this is only the first part of a longer story, the film lacks a satisfying shape, building towards a climax that it then leaves hanging. The plot is thin and at times confusing, and supporting characters are sketched quickly. Non-Indonesian viewers will also find that some of the wordplay and cultural references do not travel well, even with subtitles, while some of the broader gags have aged less gracefully than the affection behind them. ## Who should watch Warkop DKI Reborn? It is best suited to Indonesian audiences and diaspora viewers with fond memories of Warkop DKI, and to anyone interested in the country's popular cinema and its biggest box-office phenomena. Newcomers can enjoy the physical comedy but should know that much of the humour assumes familiarity with the originals. The content is mostly light, with slapstick violence and some innuendo. For more Indonesian comedy: - [Agak Laen](https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/agak-laen-2024-review/), a later comedy phenomenon built around a group of comedians, with sharper, more contemporary humour. - [Naga Bonar](https://celluloidscore.com/reviews/naga-bonar-1987-review/), a classic from the era of the original Warkop films, for Indonesian comedy with a stronger story behind the laughs. - More titles on the [comedy shelf](https://celluloidscore.com/genres/comedy/). ## The verdict Warkop DKI Reborn: Jangkrik Boss! Part 1 is a loving, well-cast tribute that captures the spirit of its icons but not always the quality of their comedy. As a cultural event it was enormous; as a film it is uneven and incomplete, best enjoyed by those who already love the trio. **Rating: 3/5** ## Related title - [Warkop DKI Reborn: Jangkrik Boss! Part 1 (2016)](https://celluloidscore.com/movies/warkop-dki-reborn-2016/) ## Editorial - [Editorial standards](https://celluloidscore.com/about/editorial-policy/) - [Report a correction](https://celluloidscore.com/about/corrections/)