Published: Friday, May 20, 2011
'Topp Twins': Portrait of wacky Kiwi duo is a real crowd-pleaser
I know what you're thinking: not another documentary portrait of country music-singing, comedy sketch-playing, twin lesbian yodelers from New Zealand?
All right, perhaps this is the only movie that fits that description. And "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" should be the final word on this zany showbiz act, wildly popular in New Zealand but mostly unknown anywhere else.
For the last few decades, Jools and Lynda Topp have carved out a beloved place for themselves in their native country by acting silly and yodeling like crazy, but also by delivering straight country tunes and putting themselves out as political activists.
The movie details their childhood as farm girls, their days of busking on the street and the process of coming out to their supportive parents. There are enough excerpts from their songs and comedy routines to give the flavor of their act.
"Untouchable Girls," directed by Leanne Pooley, does a tricky thing: It makes us interested in (and delighted by) this entertainment phenomenon we probably have absolutely no prior context for understanding.
Despite globalization, every culture has its entertainers who absolutely do not translate outside the home borders. Even Britain, which arguably shares a language with America, has comedians who are enormously popular over there and completely unknown here.
In part, that's because some acts are rooted in specific cultural references ("you had to be there," literally). As we watch the Topp Twins do their thing, you can see that part of their appeal to their fellow Kiwis is the shared understanding of certain New Zealand caricatures.
On the other hand, some of these things are common to all cultures. When the Topps dress up as two boozy male farmers, both named Ken, it's not a stretch to recognize the universal type.
Even more than their amusing songs and sketches, the Topps shine in the film for their cheerful, forthright personalities. Quite simply, they're good company, and that (on top of their other talents) is probably what has made them so popular.
Because of that, "Untouchable Girls" is one of the most sheer crowd-pleasing movies I've seen in the last couple of years. Not something usually said about documentaries, but meet the Topps and you'll see what I mean.
"The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls"
Documentary portrait of a pair of country-singing, sketch comedy-playing twin lesbian yodelers, whose wacky act has made them a beloved institution in their native New Zealand. This crowd-pleasing film does a tricky thing: it conveys the appeal of a showbiz phenomenon even though much of the Topp Twins' humor is rooted in New Zealand caricatures (and politics).
Rated: Not rated; probably PG-13 for subject matter
Showing: Grand Illusion
All right, perhaps this is the only movie that fits that description. And "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" should be the final word on this zany showbiz act, wildly popular in New Zealand but mostly unknown anywhere else.
For the last few decades, Jools and Lynda Topp have carved out a beloved place for themselves in their native country by acting silly and yodeling like crazy, but also by delivering straight country tunes and putting themselves out as political activists.
The movie details their childhood as farm girls, their days of busking on the street and the process of coming out to their supportive parents. There are enough excerpts from their songs and comedy routines to give the flavor of their act.
"Untouchable Girls," directed by Leanne Pooley, does a tricky thing: It makes us interested in (and delighted by) this entertainment phenomenon we probably have absolutely no prior context for understanding.
Despite globalization, every culture has its entertainers who absolutely do not translate outside the home borders. Even Britain, which arguably shares a language with America, has comedians who are enormously popular over there and completely unknown here.
In part, that's because some acts are rooted in specific cultural references ("you had to be there," literally). As we watch the Topp Twins do their thing, you can see that part of their appeal to their fellow Kiwis is the shared understanding of certain New Zealand caricatures.
On the other hand, some of these things are common to all cultures. When the Topps dress up as two boozy male farmers, both named Ken, it's not a stretch to recognize the universal type.
Even more than their amusing songs and sketches, the Topps shine in the film for their cheerful, forthright personalities. Quite simply, they're good company, and that (on top of their other talents) is probably what has made them so popular.
Because of that, "Untouchable Girls" is one of the most sheer crowd-pleasing movies I've seen in the last couple of years. Not something usually said about documentaries, but meet the Topps and you'll see what I mean.
"The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls"
Documentary portrait of a pair of country-singing, sketch comedy-playing twin lesbian yodelers, whose wacky act has made them a beloved institution in their native New Zealand. This crowd-pleasing film does a tricky thing: it conveys the appeal of a showbiz phenomenon even though much of the Topp Twins' humor is rooted in New Zealand caricatures (and politics).
Rated: Not rated; probably PG-13 for subject matter
Showing: Grand Illusion
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