SIONE'S 2: UNFINISHED BUSINESS

SYNOPSIS:
Five years ago the Duckrockers thought they had figured it all out - they had found themselves girlfriends to take to Sione's (Pua Magasiva) wedding and the future was looking bright. But things haven't gone as the boys might have planned: Albert (Oscar Knightley) is now married to Tania (Madeleine Sami) and they are living in suburbia, trying (unsuccessfully) to have a baby; Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi) and Leilani (Teuila Blakely) have two kids although despite Sefa's proposal, they're still not married. And while Sefa's business is falling apart, Leilani is living life to the full; Stanley (Iaheto Ah Hi) is now a trainee Deacon in the Future Church; Michael (Robbie Magasiva) has moved to Australia but the boys don't hear from him often; and Bolo (David Fane) has thrown in his job with Sefa and taken up work with Sione, Michael's younger brother. Growing up appears to be driving the Duckrockers apart but when they're confronted with one of life's unexpected turns and Bolo goes missing, their Minister once again brings them together and sends them on a quest to find Bolo.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
I can't tell you why the Samoan brotherhood living in Auckland as part of the larger Polynesian community is referred to as the Duckrockers - maybe some musical event involving them and ducks? The music is one thing (bit of hip hop and some pop) but not sure where the ducks waddle in. Sione's Wedding (2006) was an entertaining and funny wedding comedy, in which three larrikin friends had to smarten up to be allowed to attend Sione's wedding.

Time has passed and the boys have more or less grown up - probably less - and this time their mission is to find their missing friend Bolo (Fane) - before Sione's funeral. There is a farcical tone to the film, an accidental death notwithstanding, although the screenplay is rather laboured; but the good natured foolishness remains.

Albert (Knightley), Sefa (Lelisi) and Stanley (Ah Hi) search for Bolo around his known haunts, which means combing through a pub and a nightclub, before learning the real reason for Bolo's disappearance. It wasn't because he felt so guilty about accidentally striking Sione with a basketball - it's more complicated, a device to drive the comedic elements.

Adding to the chaos is the return from Australia of Seoni's older brother, Michael (Robbie Magasiva) for the funeral; his own set of problems follow in his wake, in the form of his new Greek wife (Ayse Tezel) daughter of a Melbourne Mafia family.

The screenplay is comedically peppered with cultural references and irreverent humour, and the performances are designed to fit in with the tone, as new director Simon Bennett intends. There is a simplicity to the film that is endearing and the expat community of New Zealanders and Polynesians will embrace it wholeheartedly, laughing approvingly of its cultural accuracy, even if it pokes gentle fun at them.
First published in the Sun-Herald