Robert Sarkies is a superb kiwi director, as both 'Scarfies' and 'Out Of The Blue' make clear. But, reviews being subjective, personal opinions, it pains me to say, Sarkies' latest offering left me cold. Starring 'Flight Of The Conchords' Brett McKenzie and Hamish Blake of 'Hamish & Andy,' you'd think two little boys would offer laughs a-plenty, but wild shifts in tone, from dimwitted 'bromance' to gory murder, fall flat.
When the hapless Nige (McKenzie), inadvertently runs down a norwegian backpacker, he turns to lifelong pal, Deano (Blake) for help. But Deano's a couple of Mars-bars short of a full snack and holds Nige so close in his boy's-own affections that at times the movie heads the way of a Brokeback Mountain parody. Sadly, it's way too homophobic and way too obvious for that. Whilst it may appeal to the type of beer-chugging, brain-cell-challenged, "heinous bogans" that Brett and Hamish portray, the comedy's far too broad and obvious, and the murder too messy for the two genres to mesh.
The acting's fine, especially from the two leads, who invest their paper-thin caricatures with as much sympathy as they can wring from them. Amongst the supporting cast, Maaka Pohatu shines as Gav - Nige and Deano's Maori mate - but in the end this is a movie about the two mullet-haired male leads, so there's precious little room for anyone else - let alone women, who serve as little more than set-dressing to help establish the late 80s Kiwiana of the setting. New Zealand's south and The Catlins coastline look fine, but Director of Photography Jac Fitzgerald's camera is too often tied to the claustrophobic and dingy atmosphere of a narrative that veers wildly from messy manslaughter to broad laughs at man-love. Rather than being made in the style of an over-the-top Shaun Of The Dead exercise in comic bad taste, Robert Sarkies movie (based on brother Duncan Sarkies' novel), rests too heavily in dreary reality for this to be an exercise in cartoonishly-absurd comedy. When the film does hit a surreal pitch in the final act it's a tone shift too late to save a one-note joke. The guys are dumb and dumber. They take a road-trip and try to cover up a horrible accidental crime along the way. But they forgot to pack a decent script, rounded characters or a definite tone.
Maybe if played straight it could've been great. But if you're gonna go "serious" comedy, you need to commit, (see De Niro and Grodin in 'Midnight Run.') Maybe if played for kicks it could've been slick. But, if you're gonna go fun-but-dumb, then you need to commit to that too, (see Downey Jr. And Galifianakis in 'Due Date.') If you're gonna go both madcap and morose, exploring that tiny domain between comedy and tragedy, well then, you're gonna need a finely-honed script akin to Bruce Robinson's 'Withnail & I', or Woody Allen's 'Annie Hall.' And if you're wanting to say something serious in a silly way? Study Monty Python's 'Life Of Brian,' or Billy Wilder's classic 'Some Like It Hot.' But 'Two Little Boys' wants to have its cake, run it down, chop it up, toss it off a waterfall and eat it - and it just doesn't earn the laughs or audience empathy along the way.
It's a shame to see the undoubted comic talent of the two leads go unexploited, and a director of Sarkies' proven skill miss the mark by such a wide margin, but at the end of the day, 'Two Little Boys' is seriously not funny...
Funnily enough, neither is it serious enough to engage. :(
OMG my two fav comedians Hamish Blake and Brett McKenzie in a movie together! Can't wait for this one.
Plot sounds interesting...
Saw the preview for this last night, CRACK UP!So excited!
Awesome :)
watched the trailer so many times amping to see this movie!!!!!
SO PUMPED FOR THIS MOVIE! :) I LOVE YOU HAMISH BLAKE <3
The trailer looks so funny, I can't wait for September now!!
can not wait! :)
Someone know when can i see this film? pls answer!!
@Gabriela. Yup, it's due to be released in Sept - no specific date set. Stay tuned.
Looks awesome!
The release date has been set at 20th September. Looks great!
BRILLIANT!! Looks crack up can't wait to see it!!
BLOODY AWESOtru horii right there
Looks like a great family watch to liven' my boys up. Definitely in
Slammed by Variety: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117947189/
Slammed by Variety? So was Boy before its NZ release so at least it's in good company.
Am so looking forward to seeing this movie ; )
Looks as if they've stayed true to the spirit of the book. Frekin awesome can't wait 2 c it.
Looks fantastic!
Wouldn't say that Variety "slammed it". Just not a good review, fair enough opinion.
Just seen it - what. a. crack. up! Choice
Yeah Nige, cya there!
It looks awesome...but I am scared it is not going to live up to my expectations! I hope it is as awesome as the trailer
Not only slammed by Variety Hollywood Reporter too. Killing Scandavians aint funny! look at the massacre!
Want to come to my dinosaur party? It was very entertaining bravo bravo, ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
One of the worst kiwi films i have ever walked out of
Loved it!!
Wanted to love it - but sad to say it really was very very poor. Shame really :(
I friggin LOVED this film. Its totally original-SO kiwi and I laughed heaps.
Reminded me of myself in the 90's latte sipping haters that review this above are wrong, its great
Just cos I'm a Kiwi an' proud doesn't mean I can't be honest - an' honestly? This movie sucked. Sorry.
Had its moments but it was pretty lame. Fun in parts though & reminded me of the 90s. So, it's ok I guess
Spectacular scenery but it looks dumbed down for mass appeal. I guess that's what they have to do to guarantee an audience.
The director HAS NOT dissapointed me again!! THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE, a CRACK UP.. NZ CLASSIC!! WELL DONE ROB!
It may be homegrown but it just isn't funny. What it is is obvious, dull and a let down.
Ha ha-looks like this film isn't for everyone but I thought it was brilliant. Haven't laughed this hard in a NZ film ever. Too funny.
no laughs. very stale, old hat dated humour. two little bores. the wife walked out after 30mins
Purile, pointless & pretty much exactly like the time in which it's set - dated & past its prime :(
I thought this was cool and funny. Brett Mckenzie and Hamish Blake rock as bogans and kept me laughing from start to finish.
We saw it last night. Don't be fooled - it's a huge waste of time and talent.
It's ok to support Kiwi talent yet still admit - this film simply was not funny. It happens. Get over it ;)
Two Little Boys RULZ!!!! Too funny man.
haha, amazing movie
This is a great NZ film. Very funny and dark and iconic and weird. Bret and Hamish are awesome!
saw it on the w/e. aud really wanted to love it, but their enthusiam got curdled pretty fast. s shame
Awesome movie!!
looks so funny
Where's Jermaine when we need him?