Angry Boys

Channel: ABC1*
Day & time: Wednesday, 9.00 p.m.
*Catch up: Tuesday 10.15 p.m. on ABC2
(as at July 2011)

Chris Lilley is back with his long awaited third series titled Angry Boys. Four years have passed since his last confronting, brave and undeniably hilarious last mockumentary series Summer Heights High. So successful was Summer Heights High that popular US cable channel HBO was impressed enough to get on board and co-produce Lilley’s third series with the ABC. It’s a lot of pressure for Angry Boys to be successful and the question is: does it live up to the lofty standards of its predecessors?

Again Lilley is the creator, writer and star of the show. The series centres around six main characters, all played by Lilley. There’s Gran, a prison officer at a juvenile detention centre who provides the closest thing the incarcerated boys have to a caring mother figure – organising soccer matches between the dark and white skinned inmates and playing practical jokes, such as telling a boy he’s been released early. She also happens to be the grandmother of the foul mouthed Daniel and Nathan Sims (seen in Lilley’s first series We Can Be Heroes) who pass the time doing “manies” up and down the main street of the rural town of Dunt. There’s also Blake Oakfield, a 38 year-old surfer from Australia’s east-coast with a chequered past.

The series also features two characters who live in America. There’s Jen Okazaki, a domineering mother who has forced her son to pretend he is gay in order to better market his skateboard skills. Finally, there’s rapper S.mouse, who’s most famous single is “Poo on You”. Apparently from the ghettos, he’s actually a private schooled gospel singer.

The show is essentially about the different pressures and influences that young men face in the 21st century. And like his previous series, it quickly becomes clear that Lilley isn’t afraid to offend anyone.

Some have found Lilley’s confronting, brazen and definitely not-PC brand of comedy offensive and racist. Coarse language is common and the racial issues are dealt with in typical head-on Lilley fashion. However, focusing too heavily on the language and “racism” suggests a misunderstanding of the tone of Angry Boys. Lilley presents a, jarring at times and often confronting, look at young males in contemporary society from all walks of life. Being offended by Lilley’s brand of comedy is to simply miss the point of this intelligent work of satire.

Nonetheless, what presents itself first and foremost as a comedy, simply doesn’t have enough laughs. While deeper and offering more in terms of social commentary, it doesn’t reach the same levels of humour as the constant laughter inducing Summer Heights High. That’s not to say it isn’t funny at all, it just doesn’t seem funny enough often enough.

If for nothing else though, it’s worth watching just to see Lilley play six different characters in one show. You get the sense that this guy could play anyone, from an Asian mother to Aussie country kids – his talent is undeniable.

Angry Boys isn’t as funny as you’d expect from a Chris Lilley comedy, but it’s an enjoyable watch. The question is though: where will he go from here? Success of Angry Boys in America and Britain could see Lilley hitting the big time.

Mat Kelly