Portia Hilton
Blistering performances.
Brennan Camacho
Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.
Kayden
This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama
morrison-dylan-fan
With Easter coming up I started looking for films/TV shows that friends would enjoy watching over the holiday season. After hearing from a friend about how much she has enjoyed visiting family in Australia,I began looking for Aussie films/TV,and I remembered an Aussie TV Comedy program that I heard praised when shown on the BBC,which led to me attending the Summer school.View on the program:Going to school to play all three leading roles, Chris Lilley gives outstanding performances as Mr. G, Ja'mie and Jonah Takalua. Finely-tuning the characters in his stand-up gigs for years, Lilley keeps any of the trio from blending in with each other via unique characteristic, from the delusional aggression of Drama teacher Mr. G and the juvenile frustrations and swearing of teenager Takalua,to it-girl snub Ja'mie. Spending time doing research in real schools, the scripts by Lilley find hilarity by pushing realistic school situations out of their comfort zone,as Mr.G's ego goes wild over his grandiose staging of a show based on the recent drug overdose of a student,Ja'mie making posters with her real view on her new "friends",and Jonah disrupting every class. Following the trio at school, director Stuart McDonald goes for a fake documentary-style,which along with placing the show in a grounded atmosphere, also gives the jokes a richness,thanks to McDonald capturing all the awkward reactions at each lesson of Summer Heights High.
Beanie72
Thank you Australia and Chris Lilley for creating the funniest show on television!!!!!!I saw Summer Heights High on HBO, here in the states and I thought "This looks dumb". Dumbest thought ever. This is the funniest show. The realism, the quirkiness, the pure genius of Lilley! It honestly feels like a real documentary- only freaking hilarious. I cannot even pick a favorite character, they are all so hilariously brilliant in their own way! And I love how Lilley used non-actors because it just made the sense of realism even greater. But the characters themselves are relatable! Everyone knows a Ja'mie, a Mr G, and a Jonah. Maybe they are exaggerated but we all know them. If your like me and your not sure whether to watch it....WATCH IT! You will NOT regret it, that is unless your sense of humor is unfortunate.
Bobbo Hejjiggin
Chris Lilley, who has acted as several different characters in other shows like Big Bite and We Can Be Heroes, demonstrates his great acting ability. He has researched students and teachers at schools, which was good move. Just go to any school and you can see Ja'mie and Jonah and maybe even Mr. G! This mockumentary does not only demonstrate realistic characters but some hilarious scenes! Perhaps Mr. G gets the best ones, but although also some scenes are a bit painful to watch (mainly Ja'mie) this works well in the recipe of the show because of its humour.I would recommend this to anyone who can stand listening to a bit of swearing-and the ending is one that will not be forgotten. Even if you are not remotely interested in public high schools it is a fantastic and highly enjoyable watch.10/10
miriam_eryan
Taking a Borat approach to High School here is a tongue-in-cheek series brilliantly directed and performed by Chris Lilley. In a hilarious no-holds barred representation of 'school these days – with boys and perves and sex and drugs (where) it's not like it used to be ...' Lilley's theatrical vividness comes to life. Three characters equivalently blunt in their opinions co-exist at Summer Heights High School. The three main characters all acted by Lilley; Mr G – the eccentric, 'camp' drama teacher, Jonah Takalua the Polynesian school scapegoat and smart-arse and Ja'mie the pretentious and elitist Hilford Girls exchange student all guarantee a laugh in the series. This is a satirical look at public schools, 'the worst place in Australia, where you can go get anorexia.' Playing on various truths and myths about public education, the school has all the necessary ingredients to prove microcosmic of schools today. There is Mr G's drama production, where a school play is written, directed and performed about the dangers of public education, discrimination towards Jonah and attitude to counter attacks made on him. There is also discrimination in Mr G's casting of his play towards disabled and less talented children , and bitchiness within Ja'mie's friendship group of 'public school skanks,' as well as the typical unruly classroom environment created by the class clown - Jonah. The show offers a students view of school as we know it. Though satirical, it makes a serious point about the need for change in public schools and public perception of public schools as seen through Ja'mie's character. Mr G in his musical production composes the song 'School these days –(stating) you'd have to be a fool these days, to wanna go to school these days.' Just one of the many musical scores bound to sound in your head for days and even months after viewing the series. This is a show that resonates with its audience while having us in stitches. With the suggestion of it being integrated into schools' syllabus, it may also stitch up school wrongs in time to save nine before a 'puck you with a P' revolution. For those who can't handle the candor of the series, in the words of Ja'mie, need to 'learn what a sense of humour is and just build a bridge and get over it.' This is a must see for adults and children alike.
