It's the most highly anticipated South African movie of the year and Spud does not disappoint.

A select group of reporters was yesterday treated to the first screening of the film, which stars British actor John Cleese, and it is sure to have audiences rolling in the aisles.

The film is based on the first Spud book by South African author John van der Ruit and was filmed at prestigious private school Michaelhouse, in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

The book has sold more than 100000 copies, and the film version, directed by Donovan Marsh and starring local teen Troye Sivan in the title role, vividly displays the humorous antics of the Crazy 8 group of which Spud is a member.

Although the film is about children, some parents may be offended by the steady stream of profanities used by Cleese's character, The Guv.

There is also a lot of bullying, and a significant amount of nudity, as the young teenage characters are fascinated by porn, which the character Boggo stashes under his bed.

The scene in which Boggo's porn film is played instead of the boarding house's Thursday night movie is very funny, but is likely to make some parents squirm.

The age restriction has been set at 13MSL - mature content with sex and language. But the explicit content does not detract from the film's message of friendship, perseverance and love.

The action is narrated by the central character, John Milton, a boy from a modest background who won a scholarship to the prestigious private boarding school.

Milton gets the nickname Spud after his dorm-mates see his minuscule manhood in the shower - another laugh-out-loud scene in the film.

Spud, who never loses that nickname, then descends into turmoil about his lack of pubic hair, when his voice might break, and if he will ever get to kiss a girl - let alone lose his virginity.

Cleese brings the character of the boys' alcoholic English teacher, Mr Edly, nicknamed The Guv, to life.

Set in 1990, the film is true to the period, using dated furniture, old landline telephones, old coin-operated public phones, and dated TV sets.

Spud's father is sent into a tailspin after the release from jail of former president Nelson Mandela, believing black people were going to attack him.

The overwhelming message from the movie is one of friendship, which will send you into fits of nostalgia about your own school days.