REVIEW: It was the wildly popular Kiwi comedy that dominated cinemas in the fall of 2006.
The film that successfully captured the unique Polynesian humor of beloved theater company The Naked Samoans (who had already conquered the small screen with New Zealand’s sweet in response to South Park – bro’Town).
A story full of relatable characters, quoteable dialogue, and an unstoppable feel-good factor that made it perfect for repeat viewing (which unfortunately also made it a major target for piracy, producers estimating the film lost over NZ$500,000 in box-office revenue and DVD sales thanks to the actions of an employee in a post-production facility).
So beloved were the misadventures of Oscar Kightley’s tightly wound Albert, Shimpal Lelisi’s good-time guy Sefa, Robbie Magasiva’s lothario Michael, and Iaheto Ah Hi’s quirky Stanley that a sequel, despite co-writer Kightley’s resistance, was inevitable. But even if 2012’s Unfinished Business never reached the same comedic heights and a proposed third Samoan film never came out, a prequel that fleshes out the backstory of how the infamous Duckrockers got their name would certainly be welcomed by most fans of the original.
Unfortunately, now that there is such a series, the result is a somewhat funny disappointment.
DELIVERED
Sione’s Wedding was a huge success at the Kiwi box office in 2006.
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Written by Kightley and his Sione’s collaborator James Griffin, Duckrockers (which debuts on TVNZ 2 at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2, as well as on TVNZ+) reintroduces the quartet at the end of their fourth-grade studies in those intoxicating, halcyon days of 1984.
To celebrate reaching an age of greater challenges and responsibilities, Albert (Augustino Nansen Ieremia-Seulu), Michael (Duane Wichman Evans Jr), Sefa (Levi Nansen Ieremia-Seulu), and Stanley (Dalla Latogia Malo Halavaka) crowd to their first-ever free concert.
Aotea Square is packed with performances from Herbs, The Mockers and DD Smash, but when Albert accidentally drops the boys’ illegal bottle of Richmond Ale from their rooftop vantage point, a stoush is created on the floor that quickly spirals out of control. riotous behavior that spills out into Queen Street itself.
Delivered
Despite winning appearances from the teen cast, Duckrockers never really jumps, or is always hilarious.
We hurriedly leave the scene as the police begin to intervene, and our shocked and nervous foursome wonders how long it will be before they are brought in for questioning. However, wanting to avoid a career-destroying conviction, they immediately begin brainstorming a solid alibi.
Unfortunately, when they are rescued by Sergeant Heremaia (Jarod Rawiri), they can only remember that they were performing at the local Bop Championships. That means, to prove their innocence, they need to learn some dance moves — and fast.
The pop and youth culture of the 80s and the Polynesian growing up in Gray Lynn at the time is certainly something to laugh at, and Griffin and Kightley master the language and obsessions of the time.
Delivered
Oscar Kightley plays Isaac, Augustino Nansen Ieremia-Seulu is Albert, and Bella Kalolo-Suraj writes Aunt Mary about Duckrockers.
But despite winning appearances from the teen cast, this never really catches on, or is always hilarious. Dave Fane’s scene-stealing Paul (aka “Bolo”) is strangely transformed into a cynical Goth, and the boys’ characters feel a lot less three-dimensional than bro’Town’s animated kids.
Perhaps Duckrockers’ biggest problem, though, is that it feels like it arrived a little too late. Starring Young Sheldon, The Goldbergs, Everybody Hates Chris, young rock and Raised by refugees already out there, the nostalgic comedy market is already quite busy and this just doesn’t do enough to stand out (it also feels a bit second-rate compared to something like We Are Lady Parts).
Thanks to the writing team for not using a modern frame story or narrator and it was great to have the original cast cameo throughout the eight episodes, but Duckrockers just doesn’t quite capture the spirit and chutzpah of the original, brilliant from Sione.
Duckrockers debuts on TVNZ 2 at 8.30pm on Wednesday, November 2. Episodes will also be available on TVNZ+.