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.
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bbewnylorac26 August 2013
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Jonathon_Natsis24 November 2012Paul 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.* -
surfisfun30 October 2020Take a good show and make it raunchy ozzy style. aLso,it IS NOT a copy of Trailer.S1 better then S2 in my book as some cast are gone(wt the chemistry) and it got bigger. S3 ep 01 is virus hilarious! the main guy is very physical ha ha.the main chick is hilarious and mouthy . sarcastic, druggies, low brown , sexual, criminal, stupid, silly, judgemental. love the intro theme song. very recommended , one of a kind politically gladly incorrect.
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burgif7 July 2012Satirical, hilarious show that attracted criticism from some of Australian politicians and some of the residents of the government public housing who took offense from this series, petitions and campaigns were waged to force its creator; the Australian TV channel SBS to take it of air. The show is about fictional ghetto in Sydney where most residents are living of government handouts in government housing units, satirically exposing some of those individuals' attempts to exploit the system and live the laid back life style All the actors were hilariously convincing; whether they were veterans like Ian Turpie or new comers like Kiri Schmitt. Being a low budget production; I think all people involved in this comedy have done very well in making it such entertaining show.
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Frenech's Housos like Kath and Kim is masterful, frequent comic writing. He's a talent this guy, and that includes his acting too. As just recently becoming a confirmed Housos's addict, it's genius the way his whole comedy, no matter how off the wall it is, has a too underlying truth about it. Using fictional name Sunnyvale as a suburb, you want to wisely avoid (the show is set in Mt Druitt and Parramatta) we see the struggles of the lower class, taking to crime while sharing many sexcapades. The humor is foul, as is Shazza's mouth, but it's undeniably funny, with sharp cutting dialogue. Turps is great to see as the out of house father, who spends his days at the pub playing pokies, in not a half bad performance. Off the wall it is, trashy it is, but it's funny trash, but look underneath and you'll find a reality that's all so true about the lower class. The Centrelink angle cracks me up. May'be viewers can better understand what the lower class endure, where for them it's a vicious bloody circle, and how this problem really needs to be addressed, but for the viewer this show is bold and bloody funny.
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Then add 20 more cast members who scream every word. And fill every second of every episode wall to wall with all that screaming. Then double that And double it again. Get in a fight with the cops, especially if you're drunk and pregnant. Huff glue, run down a few cops at a DUO chcheckpoint.and in your free time stand around screaming throwing bottles and do random drive bystanders at nothing about nothing. Keep screaming. Every second. I wanted to like this but I don't get it. It's like Gilmore Girls meets Benny Hill on meth with Outrageous Fortune drunk and high and committing felonies while screaming at the top of your lungs.
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pmatnike18 November 2020Say 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.
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aenima832 December 2014This 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!
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13Funbags13 September 2019The only difference is that they just made all the characters exactly the same. It's better than that swift and shift show though.
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robspunk11 August 2021Elle Dawe encapsulates the spirit and attitude of Australia in one amazing character. Never seen a women smash a wine bottle over a bogan's head with more vigor and passion. If she doesn't end her career with an Oscar something is wrong.
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dixona4 March 2019Not much to say, the acting is bad, the writing is lazy, and the obvious influence of Trailer Park Boys makes this show really hard to watch and sometimes cringe worthy. Don't waste your time with this garbage, if this kinda of humor is your thing, watch Trailer Park Boys, which is a million times better written and way more funny
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viviannegiles9 November 2020Housoes disgusting show the filth that comes out of there mouth should be axed how embarrassing for people in public housing not funny just plain stupid not happy
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trailgary2 December 2022Kudos 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 :)
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aaronsciortino8 November 2020As an Australian, I apologise for this unfunny, stupid cringeworthy mess of a show