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Meet best friends Michael, Albert, Stanley and Sefa; the ladies' man, the good boy, the weird one and the party boy. They're staring down the barrel of their 30th birthdays, but still act as if they're 16; they get drunk, they chase the wrong women and they have a remarkable record of misbehaving and causing chaos at every wedding they attend. But now Michael's younger brother Sione is getting married, and everything is about to change.
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Rated:
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[ M ]
MODERATE SEXUAL REFERENCES, MODERATE COARSE LANGUAGE
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Cinema release:
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13 Jul 2006
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DVD release:
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10 Jan 2007
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Director:
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Chris Graham
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Running time:
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97 mins
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Stars:
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Oscar Knightley, Shimpal Lelisi, Robbie Magasiva, Iaheto Ah Hi, David Fane
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Links:
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Official Site
IMDb
Rotten Tomatoes
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What we say
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I Don't, Bro
Wedding films have carved a niche in popular culture. From "My Best Friend's Wedding" to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", walking down the aisle seems the perfect platform for social hijinks.
"Sione's Wedding", an 'urban romantic comedy' set in the Polynesian community of Auckland, New Zealand, is like the unco kid at school who wants to join the soccer team. He might love soccer, and he might think he can play it, but he will never be allowed to join the squad, because he sucks.
The comedy in this so-called film is so broad it could host an eight-lane highway. The actors try so hard to be funny you can literally see the desperation in their eyes. This is bottom-of-the-barrel material, even by late-night TV sitcom standards.
Four 30-something best friends - Michael (Robbie Magasiva), Albert (Oscar Kightley), Stanley (Iaheto Ah Hi) and Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi) - are first generation Samoan New Zealanders who party every night. They live for booze and sex, refusing to act their age. Wedding receptions are their venue of choice, but their reckless behaviour usually ends in disaster for the bride and groom.
When Michael's younger brother Sione (Pua Magasiva) announces that he's getting married, he imposes a life-changing condition on the foursome: they're banned from the ceremony unless they each find a girlfriend - and grow up.
"Sione's Wedding" is the brainchild of The Naked Samoans, a hugely popular comedy theatre troupe whose animated TV series "bro'Town" has become a cult hit in New Zealand and plays in Australia on the Comedy Channel.
The film was a smash hit in its home country, and earned rave reviews. The NZ Herald gave it five stars and called it "infectiously energetic, so drenched in joy and so bloody funny that to give it less than a top rating would be churlish". The Sunday Star Times said it's "a comedy with characters we care about".
Perhaps it's a case of "lost in translation", because I found "Sione's Wedding" an awful experience from start to finish. Yes, the male leads have a believable chemistry - they're best buds off-screen - and there's a bright spot in the character of Tania (Madeleine Sami), Albert's office love interest, but the actors' constant mugging of the camera is downright embarrassing.
It's also insanely predictable, with director Chris Graham resolving each character crisis in the final 10 minutes and tying up loose threads with a shiny red bow.
However the biggest crime is the shameless product placement of a certain mobile phone company, whose logos feature unsubtly at regular intervals throughout the film.
RSVP "No" to this wedding.
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Find more info on Sione's Wedding with Bing Search
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What you say
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Add a review
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What you say
[Untitled]
  
Watched this movie a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Laughed heaps and am now going to buy it to watch again. Good lite hearted comedy with a serious side that brings in good morals and rewards with good choices in life.
Love NZ movies; has similar humour to Aussie movies. Well done.
Lynda C QLD
Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, QLD
12 Sep 2009
Thumbs Up
Loved this movie, I simply "GET IT".
Yes it may be beyond the average Australian and their culture, but look beyond and you find a film that is funny, warm and so typical.
Gill
QLD
17 Aug 2006
Good one Bro!
Scott Williamson's offensive comment about 'barrel scrapings' is just that. RSVP's review is on the money. I found "Sione's Wedding" very funny, and the NZ/Polynesian vibe was a refreshing change of scenery from the ubiqutious recycled American Scary-Date movie slapstick and Aussie bogan-shtick. Go see it and judge for yourself!
Aroha
Sydney, NSW
18 Jul 2006
Not worth a single star
I watch "At the Movies" every week and I put some faith in Margaret and David's reviews. They were very kind about this movie.
I went with my friend today and we were appalled at how bad it was. It was embarrassing to watch these "actors" stumble through this so-called movie. There was not one good moment during the film.
The producers were obviously trying to obtain a "Fat Pizza" style of lovable guys and they attempted every cliche they could. Not one character was believable and I have never heard the word "dick" used so often. "Root" was another prehistoric word used often.
If I had watched this movie at home as a midday movie I would have felt equally ripped off. This should never have made it to the big screen and reviewers in the media should be more honest and save moviegoers from wasting their time viewing such garbage.
I will not give this movie any portion of a star.
Maggie
Brisbane, QLD
14 Jul 2006
Hear, Hear!
I hope that people take heed of another appropriate review from Mark Beirne. Save yourself the agony of the technically tangled, painfully predictable, comedic crash that is this movie!
How my fellow commentators could ever give this movie such a wrap is beyond me. I was not aware that movies were no longer judged on their own merits, but are compared with their cross-Tasman counterparts to achieve validity. Nor that to watch a movie I should require a deep understanding of a culture I am not a native of.
Perhaps the movie distributors should take the advice of "RSVP" and place copies of "Polynesian Culture for Dummies" on the seats of every theatre showing this movie. It may indeed enhance the otherwise mind-numbing experience. Alternatively, lobotomies could be offered pre-viewing to allow the forgivings this movie requires.
I am all for New Zealanders being proud of their barrel scrapings, but please, when informing the general population of how to spend their $14.50 leave your enthusiasm at home.
Scott Williamson
Sydney, NSW
14 Jul 2006
Cool culture
If you immerse yourself in the cultures of your Pacific neighbours then you get to appreciate their humour.
Not all of it is about beer, barbecues, women and footy.
It's OK if you don't like the film, I didn't like "Crocodile Dundee".
Asi
NSW
13 Jul 2006
Go get a life, Beirne!
From your review, I can see that you know nothing about Polyneisan culture, you loser! Hey, this ain't supposed to be some serious marriage movie, it's a comedy filled with humour that makes Polynesian people unique.
It's not the best movie to come from New Zealand, but it sure beats the crap out of some the worst movies I've seen coming from the Australian film industry, e.g. "You and Your Stupid Mate".
Yes, the movie tries too hard to be funny at times, but it also showcases the kindhearted nature of the Polynesian. The product placement thing was also annoying, but hey, maybe they're just trying to make extra cash.
Before you begin to criticise the comedic stylings from New Zealand, look at the torrid history of Australian comedies. I don't know if you enjoy the dry humour encased within Australian comedy productions, but I'd watch this movie over any comedy crap that comes out of Australia, barring "The Castle" - the only comedic masterpeice the Australian film industry has managed to come up with.
"Sione's Wedding" may have its flaws, but it provides a refreshing balance of comedy and stupidity, making it 97 minutes of compulsive viewing.
RSVP
Brisbane, QLD
13 Jul 2006
Yes, do
If ever a review deserved to be ignored, it is Mark Beirne's review of "Sione's Wedding".
This is a wonderful, joyful film from beginning to end. Well written, well acted, well crafted all round.
Okay, yes, there is some dodgy product placement - but if that's the worst crime "Sione's Wedding" is guilty of, then what the heck is wrong with that man?
Accept the invitation - go - enjoy.
Friend of Sione
NSW
11 Jul 2006
Men being boys
"Sione's Wedding" is the epitome of men being boys. I sat in the movie with my mum and my grandma and we all laughed until we cried. The theme pulls at the heart strings. The boys all have to find "real" girlfriends to take to Sione's wedding. From "the girl who is one of the boys" to the girlfriend who "cooks up a feed for all my mates when we stumble in drunk" to the sexy guy who "only wants to date white trash girls", you can identify with each scenario and it will have you reminiscing about your previous relationships or lack thereof.
Great acting. Technically it is a little rough around the edges - just like the key characters in the film. Very suave script! Check it out!
Sarah
Sydney, NSW
6 Jul 2006
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