Housos

Say what you want about this show, but it's fun and does social commentary it's own exaggerating way. Just under stand some parts are supposed to be rude and in your face with high velocity, and that's ok with me. I get it's not for some people and its unapologetic in that way. It's not trying to be anything else than what it is. Even though I compare it to trailer park boys, there are plenty of shows showing the lower class scheming formula.

Paul Fenech, creator of the outrageous Australian comedies Pizza and Swift and Shift Couriers, brings the satirical degenerates of his latest television series Housos- the controversial program that pokes fun at life in the fictional housing commission suburb of Sunnyvale- to the big screen.

The film follows houso Shazza (Elle Dawe) who, upon finding out that her estranged mum is terminally ill, makes the trip to Alice Springs to be with her on her deathbed. After mum passes away, Shazza vows to honour her dying wish by spreading mum's ashes atop Ayers Rock. Along for the ride are dopey de facto Dazza (Jason Davis), father of the year Kev (Kev Taumata), his delusional wife Vanessa (Vanessa Davis) and carefree criminal Franky (Fenech).

To Fenech's credit, not one sector of Australian society escapes mockery in this film. Deadbeat Kiwis, Lebanese wannabes, Aboriginals and even the Prime Minister cop a truckload of amusing, if somewhat overboard, punishment for the stereotype they have assisted in creating.

The comedy never settles on a middle ground, and is instead wildly inconsistent in producing laughs. Funny moments often have the positive effect of taking the viewer by surprise, even if they are overshadowed by the ludicrousity of the scene, while lapses in humour- especially when the cast tries too hard- are painfully uncomfortable.

The entire film feels like overcompensation for a lack of plot and genuine intrigue (screenplay and stylist credits seem a bit rich, since most dialogue contains variations of the F-bomb and everyone looks the same in every scene), but if served with a heavy dose of ticklish friends and bottom-rung expectations, one might even be reluctant to admit how much they enjoyed Housos vs. Authority. By the closing credits, nobody's learnt their lesson and nobody's a better person for the experience…and that's just the way it should be.

*There's nothing I love more than a bit of feedback, good or bad. So drop me a line on jnatsis@iprimus.com.au and let me know what you thought of my review.*

Kudos to Paul Fenech for this late-night satire! I don't know what Dame Edna would think of series but reckon for sure Sir Les Patterson would be tickled pink/ruddy-red with humour. Lead character Frankie is to all intents a down-under Warren Beatty/Warren Zevon love-child who's basically an anti-authoritarian outlaw jailbird on the run. Off the grid so to speak... (man a guy like Frank could do with a lawyer like Saul Goodman but that's a different story) although Frank's often goes back to home town Sunnyvale so he can sort stuff out if U know what I mean. Anyhow sit back and enjoy the ride folks (all U kiddies watching should go back to bed, as Roy & HG would say :)

I could see how a lot of viewers would be utterly appalled by this crude, rude comedy. Full of F words, bongs, debauchery, drugs, dole bludgers, street riots, trashing police cars, burning government buildings...this is normal life in the fictional Sunnyvale. But underneath it all, there is some merit to it. Absolutely everyone is sent up, from Frankie's Maltese background, to pokies loving elderly people, Lebanese mothers in burqas, dwarf bikies, heroin addicts, eastern suburbs TV reporters, inept police, Centrelink staff and Aussie dole bludgers. All these characters are not only sent up, they're often bashed and humiliated. It's not a pretty show, but you can't look away, and there are some genuinely funny scenes. And the show does take risks. Kids, for example, aren't depicted as sweet, rascally moppets. They get tasered, they're left home alone, they're shunted around as part of scams to get the adults more social welfare benefits, or left outside the pub while their parents get drunk. In one episode, a gang of kids sets fire to a neighbour's house. It's not pretty, but many of the plots are not outside the realms of real life possibility. Housos does go totally over the top, often, but it does have some value and it can be really funny.

This show is one of the funniest things the Fat Pizza crew has done. I quite enjoy it. I used to pretty much live like these people for about 3 years, so i can relate. The previous reviewer has it all wrong she doesn't understand because she is from the states. Now if it was a show about rednecks. Maybe a different review would of been put up. Every country has its issues with people on the poverty line. Your country ain't perfect. Now go watch something else or i'll thong ya haha. Paul Fenech has come along way with his comedy, you need to go back to his earlier stuff with Fat Pizza to admire his work. Also have Swift & Shift which was also a great funny show. Must be doing something right with making 3 different shows and now making movies that blend all the characters into the one flick and he plays 3 characters. I myself am a big fan and hope to see many shows in the future!