Three Wise Cousins - Review

Fans of the Sione's Wedding films will lap up this colourful and charming Kiwi-Samoan comedy.

It's the story of Adam (Neil Amituanai), a bit of a feckless slob, who, when he isn't on his Playstation, is asking his long-suffering Mum, "what's for dinner?"

However, his life is turned upside down when he admires a "beautiful" law student, who shares the same bus stop as him. Unable to muster up the courage to speak with her, he hits upon a plan when he overhears that she'd like a real "Island guy". Hopping on the first plane to Apia, he enlists the support of his two cousins – the muscle-bound Mose (Vito Vito) and the more "sensitive" Tavita (Vesui Villiamu). But as well as teaching him how to climb trees, crack open coconuts and weave baskets, they also offer up some more pertinent life-skills and advice.

While Stallone Vaiaoga-Ioasa's (working here under the moniker S.Q.S) film may look distinctly low-fi, it provides a far more genuine and coherent mix of cheeky humour and messages about family values than a dozen similarly themed Hollywood ethnic or demographic "comedies".

And what the cast may lack in previous experience, they certainly make up for with a natural ability to deliver deadpan one-liners (commenting on Adam's frequent "power naps" on the island, Mose says "When the power goes off, he goes to sleep"), or providing a seemingly endless stream of metaphors and homilies to guide their new charge.  An unexpected delight.

For ticket info, check out Hoyts and Events Cinemas!

- Stuff