Fat Pizza

I don't know why, but it seems like the makers of the film had a 3-week deadline to get the film done. Many of the shots are poor, and a few reshoots could have done it well in the long run.

But, overall, I did enjoy the movie. I admit that the starting was not great, but towards the end there was so much going on, you just couldn't stop watching!

Many cameos make this a worthwile watch, with Jabba from Channel V even making a star appearance as the new Fat Pizza employee, who is hell bent on whatever drugs he can find.

The story is not great, but it ensures many events to happen along the way. There's Bobo's wedding and his (extreme) bachelor party, Sleek being stalked by fat women, Pauly looking after Bobo's wedding ring, and Habib growing even more afraid of police activity, whilst trying to get any chick he can (and if you've seen the movie, ou'll know what I mean!).

But, even these many events cannot overpower the production values. Much of the acting is poor, and nesarly every culture or group is attacked in one form or another. What I mean is, some people may get offended.

Overall, I give it 4 out of 10.

Fat Pizza is an extreme big-screen version of the Australian television series of the same name. Regular narration by writer/producer/director/star Paul Fenech's character "Pauly" provides a feasible link for a range of events surrounding pizza-chef Bobo's impending mail-order marriage.

Rap music, ethnic rivalry, anglo-ignorance, street gangs, illegal immigrants, sex, drugs, religion and sexuality: Fat Pizza handles all these topics with absolute irreverence.

There's a "cast of thousands" of Australian sport and TV icons playing small parts (with the late gay television identity Bernard King appearing several times as a leather daddy tempting Fat Pizza's delivery boys). Delivery boy/rapper Sleek also finds himself irresistibly responding to gay men, even though he thinks he's a chick magnet.

Fat Pizza is unapologetically Australian, with a huge thumping soundtrack, and fast pace. Paul Fenech has created a major work of contemporary Australian piss-taking.

Of course those who have rated this show the low points are the westerners who get offended by the slightest thing possible. If you are not a person who is easily offended and into ethnic comedy -and if you can comprehend the aussie accent- i would definitely reccomend.

There's a plot of sorts about a guy who works at a pizza shop holding a ring for his boss who bought a mail-order bride or something. The plot is just an excuse to string some skits together. Some hilarious, some funny, some awful (the Ronald McDonalds, the baby),. Offending pretty much everyone along the way. VERY un-P.C. which is a good thing. This is based on a TV show I guess (I don't know, I'm not an Aussie, I've never even been in prison). Sure it's juvenile, sophomoric, and obsessed with ass humor, but I'd rather with this than any Ali G. However,it could also have been cut by a good 10 or so minutes and would have been better

My Grade: C+

It's been said that this movie sets Australian culture back 20 years. Whoever said that (I read it somewhere, but can't remember where) has his/her head in his/her armpit. It's the side of Australian culture outsiders rarely see. Illegal immigrants ARE arriving in leaky boats. Police ARE unfairly targeting ethnic minorities. Fast-food corporations (eg McDoggles) ARE being mean to the little guy (and I don't just mean Pauly). People ARE making speed in their backyards. Backpackers ARE being murdered.

Though I'm sure that, when these things occur in the real world, they are nowhere near as funny as they are in Fat Pizza. This movie is utterly hilarious from beginning to end. Sure, the humour may not be everyone's cup of tea. I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable watching it with my Nanna.

It's unfair to say there is no structure to the plot. There is. Just not a standard one. Which, in this age of Hollywood formula, should be regarded as a good thing. This movie breaks the rules, baby!

If you enjoy watching the Pizza TV show on SBS, you'll have a blast. It's longer, with more jokes and cameos crammed in. A family-size Pizza, if you like.

If I had to choose between Fat Pizza and Kangaroo Jack as a representation of Australian culture, I'd choose Fat Pizza in a second.