Rating: M
Release Date: 20 May 2010
Running Time: 102 minutes
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The sequel to Australia’s 15th highest grossing film, Wogboy, is making its debut. This time it will have an international release with a premiere in Mykonos later this month, where most of the film was shot.
It follows the story of Wogboys Steve Karamitsis (Nick Giannopoulos) and Frank (Vince Colosimo) travelling to the Greek Island of Mykonos to claim Steve’s inheritance and in the process rediscover themselves and their mojo. Frank on meeting the King Of Mykonos (Kevin Sorbo) who has the record of bedding 43 women in one summer, inspires him to put his divorce behind and attempt to conquer the unapproachable Enza (Cosima Coppola). Meanwhile Steve has to overcome “Greekonomics” of bribes, family freeloaders and the stunning Zoe (Zeta Makrypoulia) fiancé to his arch rival Mihali (Alex Dimitriades). His mate Tony the Yugoslav (Costas Kilias), in hiding from the Australian federal police and taking disguise tips from Tony Mokbel’s wig, joins them in Mykonos.
It deals with the theme of identity with this offspring generation of 1950’s immigration struggling with intial unacceptance in their adopted country only to find that they no longer belong in the mother country either. It’s touted as a coming of age film for the Wogboy concept from its inception ten years ago but I am puzzled why the film was made. They are no longer the new migrant kids on the Australian block having been surpassed by the wave of Asian immigration to the current African contingent who should be telling their stories and breaking down barriers with their own style of humour. The “fish out of water” gags were not particularly strong or humorous which was endemic to the whole film. In short, its not funny, not really relevant and looks a tad tired with the stars riding on their former glory over ten years ago. Do we really care how the now middle aged Wogboys have evolved.
Unbeknowst to the writers at the time, Giannopoulos re-teaming with Chris Anastassiades award winning writer of The Wogboy and Acropolis Now, the Greekonomics jokes have come home to roost with the current financial crisis which unfortunately just adds to the cringe factor. The icing on the cake goes to the Greek rendition of Men at Work’s “Land down under” so hardly groundbreaking comedy. The shining light in the film is the ethereal beauty of Makrypoulia, Coppola and the Agean coast which literally steals every scene they feature in.
It serves a niche market and fan base in Australia of Ethnic – Australians and delivers a similar product to the first film, so fans will probably enjoy. Now that it is based in an overseas location with popular stars of Zeta Makrypoulia and Cosima Coppola in their respective countries of Greece and Italy should help assist with international sales.
Those that loved The Wogboy will probably still enjoy this but for the uninitiated Kings of Mykonos maybe but not Kings of Oz.
1/5 stars
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