Sequel to the awesome Sione's Wedding (2006), picking up five years later with the Duckrockers dealing with marriage, parenthood, money and a missing Bolo (David Fane).
Albert (co-writer Oscar Kightley) and Tania (Madeleine Sami) are now happily married, but can't quiet seal the deal with a baby. Whilst Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi) and Leilani (Teuila Blakely) have got two kids, they aren't married despite Sefa's proposal. Stanley (Iaheto Ah Hi) is now a trainee Deacon in the Future Church, Michael (Robbie Magasiva) has moved to Australia, and Bolo ditched his job with Sefa’s failing business to work for Sione. As adulthood drives them apart, a crisis brings them back together: when Bolo disappears, the Minister (Nathaniel Lees) gathers up the boys to find him, somewhere, in the world’s largest Polynesian city.
When it was released six years ago, Sione's Wedding didn’t quite make the economic or cultural impact expected. One school of thought blames piracy for the former, but the latter is more readily explained by the film doing merely an average job at charting overly familiar comedic territory (albeit with a Polynesian Auckland twist). So what’s this ‘Unfinished Business’ referred to in the title of its sequel then? Upon seeing Sione's 2, it’s hard to escape the conclusion that they’re talking about box office, rather than funny business.
With the characters already established from the first film, there’s little that Sione's 2 needs to do but jump straight into the story and get the jokes flowing but, like its predecessor, the film applies the blueprint of mainstream Hollywood. When the strength of your cast lies in its comedy potential, this is what needs the most screen time, rather than dramatic elements that have predictable twists and turns. Better to have the most perfunctory narrative than the laboured effort that shows up here and focus on the gags.
Laughs don’t come often enough though, and when the film’s focus moves away from the well-depicted humorous chemistry shared by its leads, it struggles to work. This sequel underachieves when you look at what the contributors should collectively be capable of.
By Steve Newall, Flicks.co.nz
This movie is the second of the sione series. This movies is a good movie for most kids around 11 to 17 this movie is the best movie I have ever seen in the world to me it is a must see
After I paid for my Ticket to today's film, Sione's 2, it struck me that I was about to see a rare commodity in NZ cinema, a Sequel. I, like many others, thoroughly enjoyed Sione's Wedding. Though not perfect, the comedy was fresh, and whilst the culture was primarily Samoan, it felt quintessentially Kiwi. With the knowledge that the new instalment was in the can, I, along with three hundred thousand other kiwis re-watched the first film when it recently screened on New Zealand television. Laughing along, my thoughts turned to why? Why potentially ruin these hilarious characters by fleshing out another story? Where can they go from here? The answer is sadly as I feared, not very far at all. Where Sione's 2 went wrong is open to debate. You could argue, like me, that it wasn't really needed in the first place! Maybe you could look at the script and consider, as funny as the characters were, did they have enough depth to sustain another 90 mins? Or you can take the fact that the very capable Chris Graham ('The Ferryman' & exceptional the Short Film 'Water') didn't return to direct. Simon Bennett, his replacement, is an equally capable Television Producer / Director, known for his work on Outrageous Fortune & the Almighty Johnsons. TV seems more suited to his style. The shift to film didn't quite work this time. It's not all gloom, Shimpal Lelis , Robbie Magasiva & the talented Madeleine Sami again provide some genuine depth. But the highlight was Iaheto Ah Hi with his portrayal of Stanley, the seemingly clueless man of god. There were moments of fleeting brilliance for other cast members, though sadly not enough to keep this viewer engaged. For what it's worth, I have the up most respect for anyone prepared to get out there and get it done in New Zealand; sorry to say this time it wasn't for me. Next time boys, next time.
The odd flash of comic chemistry can still be detected in this uneven sequel.
Sure, it tries hard to move things on from the wedding-themed first movie but Unfinished Business lacks the spark and the smarts of Sione's Wedding. It's no honeymoon.
Despite a somewhat darker plot, it retains the resolutely cheerful, upbeat tone of Sione the first.
This film is happy to chase a few cheap laughs.
Some absurdly farcical situations, as well as cringe making one liners and some brilliant humour.
We've been told the NZ release date for this flick is Wednesday, 18th Jan 2012.
Release date: January 18th 2012.
We haven't received times for this movie in this location yet. However these are updated as cinemas announce them, so check back soon. Hopefully the lovely cinemas in your location will choose to play it shortly. ~Ed.
