Two Little Boys Review: When black comedy is too dark

Set in Invercargill, New Zealand in the early 90‘s - think acid wash jeans and mullets - two recently estranged best friends Nige (Bret McKenzie) and Deano (Hamish Blake) reunite when Nige accidentally kills a Norwegian backpacker and needs Deano’s help to dispose of the body. Their friendship is once again strained when each friend reacts and handles the psychological consequences of their actions very differently.

If you’re a fan of Blake’s or McKenzie’s, both superior and talented comedians - McKenzie even a recent Oscar winner for ‘The Muppets’ - it’s important to note that neither wrote this film - perhaps the worst mistake they could have made. Black comedies always walk a fine line between the black and the comedy, and in the case of ‘Boys’, the line is so far out of reach, which results in a mess of frustratingly irritating and pointless dialogue and a muddled concept.

TWO LITTLE BOYS - TRAILER

Comedy is a tricky task when being delivered by two murderers, one on the brink of a breakdown, the other precariously straddling the sanity line and leaning in the wrong direction. The subject matter pretty much beats down any sense of whimsy, and the two comics' utter respect the other's talent stops either of them from truly standing out or redeeming the script's failures. The characters' constant bickering (including a back and forth screaming match consisting pretty much of just the F-bomb) wears thin. Given the lack of emotional context when it comes to their alleged 15-year friendship - a fact we only get a glimpse of in a flashing montage - it’s hard to connect and care. While their banter is funny in an absurd kind of way, it lacks truly intelligent humour - something we expect and downright deserve from the pair.

Comedy is a tricky task when being delivered by two murderers.

Where the film does deserve praise in Blake’s decision not to attempt a New Zealand accent (possibly out of fear of sounding like a ‘Beached Az’ character) and the film’s spectacular indy display of New Zealand’s Catlins coast.

This film is dark, oddly graphic (be prepared to see one of Australia’s favourite radio hosts take an axe to a corpse - and like it) and unfortunately... boring. Wait for the DVD, and even then, only if you’re desperate.

CAST:	Bret McKenzie
	Hamish Blake
	Maaka Pohatu
	Filip Berg

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TWO LITTLE BOYS

WHEN BLACK COMEDY IS TOO DARK