5.2
Two women run a business breaking up couples for cash but when one develops a conscience their friendship unravels.
Jackie van Beek
Jen
Madeleine Sami
Mel
Celia Pacquola
Anna
James Rolleston
Jordan
Ana Scotney
Sepa
Carl Bland
Graham
Brett O’Gorman
Stan
Cohen Holloway
Joe
Rima Te Wiata
Shona
Angella Dravid
Jodie
Jemaine Clement
Tinder Date
Nic Sampson
Jeff Wald
Ryan Lampp
Brendan
Karen O'Leary
Police Officer
Rose Matafeo
Check Out Chick
Stacey Te Hau
Jordan's Mum
Troy Kingi
Coach
Tekeepa Aria
Sepa's Crew
Amanaki Prescott-Faletau
Sepa's Crew
Moe Laga
Sepa's Crew
Hilary Samuela
Sepa's Crew
Bryce Darren Taniue
Sepa's Crew
Jimmy Metherell
Client
Lucy Lawless
Client
Teuila Blakely
Client
Elroy Finn
Client
Renee Lyons
Client
Urzila Carlson
Client
Joyce Irving
Client
Pax Assadi
Client
Chris Parker
Client
Kura Forrester
Client
Yvette Parsons
Client
Oscar Kightley
Client
Anapela Polataivao
Client
Mike Beck
Officer Tony
Donna Brookbanks
Bride-to-Be
Todd Emerson
Groom
Wesley Dowdell
Deli Worker
Laura Daniel
Woman at the Party
Brynley Stent
Girlfriend
Harry McNaughton
Partybus Barman
Andrew Grainger
Peter Stallone
Jesse Griffin
Bartender
Guy Montgomery
Waiter
Penny Ashton
Marriage Celebrant
Jaquie Brown
Marriage Celebrant
Thomas Sainsbury
Director, Writer
Madeleine Sami
Director, Writer
Jackie van Beek
June 29, 2020
4
Click here for a video version: https://youtu.be/Cv_KKXkY9mk
_The Breaker Upperers_ is a 2018 New Zealand comedy that follows the adventures of two ladies with a unique business. Here’s the description to give you an idea of what it’s all about:
_For the right price, BFFs Jen and Mel will ruthlessly end any romance. But when one grows a conscience, it threatens to derail their relationship._
Even as a New Zealander, I find New Zealand comedies to be very hit or miss. _The Breaker Upperers_ falls kinda awkwardly somewhere in the middle. The key problem is that it can't seem to decide if it’s a comedy or a drama. It has funny parts for sure, but it's not consistently funny enough all the way through to be a full comedy, and nor does it have enough drama to be called a drama. It starts off strongly but then the laughs become more and more spread out as the runtime ticks over.
When it was funny it was hilarious. There's some great visual gags and physical comedy in it, and the whole Celine Dion sequence in particular had me in stitches. There’s also some great cameos from some famous Kiwi actors in it. Lucy Lawless, Jemaine Clement, and Rima Te Wiata all make appearances and steal their scenes.
So all up it’s what I would call a light comedy. You won’t burst your sides while watching it, but it will put a smile on your face.