Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Move over 'The Man from Snowy River', Australia now has a new representative of the national identity: 'The Houso'.One was the product of generations of independent-minded pioneers whose concept of social security was riding a boundary fence armed with a rifle; the other is a product of the Nanny State.This is a funny movie, especially for Australians who have more than a passing acquaintance with the housing commission areas depicted in the film. Australian cinema has always been able to come up with outrageous movies that offend just about everyone, however not many of them are funny - this one is. The reason it works so well is that Paul Fenech, the director, writer and star of the film, built the satire on keenly observed truths. A unique commentator on Australian society, he delivers his insights cloaked in humour, giving them more power than any lettered university lecturer with access to all the demographic data and pie charts in the world.You don't need to know the TV series to follow this movie, it stands by itself. The setting is Sunnyvale, 'Australia's worst suburb', with a culture that makes the one in "Lord of the Flies" look enlightened. The story centres on Shazza (Elle Dawe) who lives in a crowded housing commission home with her defacto and his parents. She just wants to have a quiet bong on the bed while someone minds the baby, but Shazza's life is full of crises.When her mother sends a letter asking for help, Shazza is given a van and a fuel card by the leader of the local bikies (a perfectly cast Angry Anderson) and heads for Alice Springs with the anarchic crew from Sunnyvale.Although you could spend hours analysing the things that inspired the humour in this film, Fenech put his finger on the biggest effect the lifestyle has on just about everyone in Sunnyvale - they are totally reactionary - they live minute by minute, let alone day by day, and the only forward planning that takes place is triggered by anxiety over the next Centrelink payment.Not all the bits of business work; it gets a bit crazy before the end, but the laughs arrive regularly. Much is communicated visually - the scene of the diminutive housos set against the backdrop of Sunnyvale's most impressive structures, the jungle of electric power towers, says a lot about their environment. The antithesis of political correctness, the film is however non-discriminatory; everyone gets a thong slap.Although overseas audiences would probably need subtitles for this film - there were times when I could have used them myself - Australia's Housing Commission program probably equates to the council estates in the UK and 'The Projects' in the US, but I can't remember too many comedies emanating from them - maybe there is an opportunity for Fenech to expand his franchise.Now that a gap in my knowledge has been closed - next time I pass the housing commission complex in the suburb where I live, I will have far more respect for the comic potential that exists therein.

Not since the days of Paul Hogan and "Crocodile Dundee" has a movie captured the essence of the True Australian. This movie should be part of the induction process when new immigrants move here , and be added to the Tourism Board as recommended viewing material. If you want insight as how the typical Aussie behaves, you cant get closer then this movie. Although the characters appear stereotypical , rest assured this is how they behave on a daily basis. The only slightly concerning part was when the aliens beamed down , but apart from that , this movie is more of a documentary then a movie. Bottom line if you want to understand Australians watch this movie

How can people like this? I guess if you find crime, drugs, vandalism, constant swearing and a bunch of unlikeable morons funny then please feel free to watch this movie. The really sad thing is that there are far too many people who are like the characters in this movie but that does not make them funny. The movie tries to somehow turn a bunch of bludgers terminally sponging off welfare and ensuring their kids will continue the chain, into endearing people and at least in my opinion just reaffirms that society is not heading in the right direction when things like manners, honesty and respect for law are shown as things to be despised.

Having grown up around housing commission areas in NSW, this film made me laugh non-stop from beginning through to the end.All the characters have been stereotyped to perfection, every line is hilarious and quotable. Just the look on Shazza's face whenever she is going off puts this film ahead of most Australian films. Well done to Paul Fenech, the cast and crew. You pulled off a very funny film which should have received more marketing push / more support from Australian audiences.If you do a Kickstarter or Pozible for your next project, let me know and i'll throw a $50 your way.Thanks.