Protagonist of the film is Morgan Leaffy (played by Colin Fliers), low-level British diplomat recently assigned to the post in newly independent African state of Kinjaja. For him the mission in African hellhole is equal to punishment, but his problems are only starting when he receives an important task from his ambitious boss Arthur Fenshawe (played by John Lithgowe). He must convince country's Professor Adenkule (played by Louis Gossett Jr.), country's most powerful politician, to give lucrative oil-drilling rights to British company. Another problem is local superstition that risks create major diplomatic scandal. Leaffy's efforts to solve those problems are hindered by his own womanising habits and some really embarrassing health issues. The only person who might aid Leaffy is Dr. Alex Murray (played by Sean Connery), altruistic Scottish physician.

Despite having truly impressive international cast and novel's author William Boyd working on the screenplay, GOOD MAN IN AFRICA is a big disappointment. It seems that someone or something sucked out entire satirical edge out of the original novel. What remained is the bunch of dislikeable characters with whom the audience can't sympathise. That includes even Sean Connery, who, despite playing the most noble of the characters, never had less likeable screen personality. The only remarkable thing about this is Beresford's colour-blindness in such approach - the same misanthropic vitriol in which he painted British as former colonial masters is reserved for their subjects, portrayed either as superstitious savages or shrewd cleptocrats. The quality of humour in the film leaves much to be desired, and the ending is especially disappointing. All in all, GOOD MAN IN AFRICA is a film bearable to watch, but hardly anything above it.