Netflix And Chill: The Breaker Upperers (2018)

Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek are a talented duo. Not only do they star in The Breaker Upperers but they also co-wrote and co-directed the movie, and if you've enjoyed any other comedies from New Zealand over the years then I can't see you managing to resist the charms of this. It has that same warmth to it, the savvy use of gentle humour to support material that has some serious points scattered in between the frequent laughs.

The two leads star as Mel (Sami) and Jen (Van Beek), women who provide a unique service for people. They arrange break-ups. Whether it is helping to portray someone as a blatant cheat, delivering the message in song, or even pretending to be the police as they inform others that someone has gone missing, they aim to make the break serious and permanent. And they think they're doing a good job, convinced that those who have been given the bad news will come out the other side all the better for it. It's only a matter of time, however, until the reality of what they do starts to worry one of them, Mel, and this coincides with her becoming unwisely involved with a client (Jordan, played by James Rolleston).

Having heard good things about this for a few weeks now, The Breaker Upperers is one I was keen to get to, but scheduling kept meaning I had to delay it for other things. I implore others not to make the same mistake. It's not flawless, by any means, but it's much better than the majority of other comedies that you may have gone to see at the cinema over the last few years. At least just watch the start of it. The opening scenes quickly set up the characters, and the general vibe of the film, so if you don't like any of that then you're not going to like the rest. But you should like it. All of it.

Although the script lacks any major surprises, even if you can't see the details of the ending coming from the very beginning you can work out most of the general outcomes, the performances do plenty to make up for any sense of over-familiarity. Sami and Van Beek are fun leads, working off one another in a way that feels very natural and believable, and they have surrounded themselves with a talented supporting cast. Rolleston is hilariously dumb for almost every moment that he's onscreen, Ana Scotney is hugely entertaining as the tough young lady that Rolleston wants to break away from, and Celia Pacquola does great work as the woman who finally has our leads facing up to the consequences of what they do. Other fun turns come from Rima Te Wiata, Cohen Holloway, Jemaine Clement (in a brief cameo), and Angella Dravid gets a chance to shine at the very end of the movie.

Although it seems nice and light, and easy to enjoy, The Breaker Upperers is even more impressive because of how wrong it could have gone. The tone works throughout, with some of the more pointed moments still working dark humour throughout the interactions, and you get a fine clash of optimism and cynicism, as well as a belter of a Celine Dion moment on the soundtrack and a lively bit of singing and dancing to help wrap everything up during the grand finale.

8/10

Here's a disc that should work fine in the UK.
This SAYS it is an all-region DVD.

What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

A few years ago I saw, and enjoyed, a film called Vampires. It was a little vampire movie, done in the fake documentary style. I don't think many other people saw it. Which is why I may have been one of the few people hesitant when I started to hear the praise heaped upon What We Do In The Shadows - a vampire movie done in the fake documentary style. I needn't have worried. This is deserving of all the praise it has received so far.

Written and directed by stars Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, this is a film that mixes obvious jokes with more inventive moments, utilising some great FX work to not only create great gags, but also ensure that the horror element is also genuinely horrific at times.

Waititi is Viago, one of four vampires living in a house together. Viago is the guy who arranges the house meetings and worries about everyone keeping a normal home, despite their abnormal lifestyles. Clement is Vladislav, a once-legendary vampire who has lost his mojo in recent years. Jonathan Brugh is Deacon, the coolest of the bunch, and Ben Fransham is Petyr, an ancient nosferatu type. The four become five when a young man (Cori Gonzalez-Macuer) is turned and this newcomer changes the whole dynamic of the group, highlighting the need to adapt to life in the 21st century.

There are so many great moments here that it's hard to know where to begin. This is the kind of film that leaves you mentally picking out highlights as soon as the end credits roll: an encounter with some werewolves (NOT swear-wolves), an attempt to drain blood from someone without getting too much on the furniture, a shaming ceremony conducted when someone is ostracised from the group. These are just a few of the moments that will make you laugh.

It's also worth noting, however, that this is not for the squeamish. There are some impressive displays of bloodletting, and one or two moments that you could easily class as the stuff of nightmares. If you were faint-hearted enough.

The acting from everyone involved is perfectly suited to the material. All of the main vampires may be slightly over the top, but that isn't a problem. Waititi, Clement, Brugh, and even Fransham (as mute as his performance is) are all playing specific types of people/vampires. Gonzalez-Macuer is very much an interloper, a tourist not familiar with the ways of the locals. Stuart Rutherford is wonderful as a human who becomes a friend to the vampires, Jackie van Beek is also great as a familiar growing impatient as she anticipates being turned by Deacon, and Rhys Darby raises quite a few laughs as the alpha male lycanthrope trying to keep his pack members calm.

A real treat, thoroughly deserving of all the compliments that it's received in the past few months, What We Do In The Shadows has big laughs, a surprisingly big heart, and some big arterial spray mishaps.

9/10