Fat Pizza vs. Housos
| Fat Pizza vs. Housos | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Paul Fenech |
| Produced by | Paul Fenech and Joe Weatherstone |
| Written by | Paul Fenech |
| Starring |
Paul Fenech Elle Dawe Kevin Taumata Tahir Bilgiç Rob Shehadie Johnny Boxer Paul Nakad Nick Giannopoulos Angry Anderson Vanessa Davis Jason "Jabba" Davis. |
| Music by | Theme song by Heaven the Axe[1] |
| Cinematography | Mike Kliem |
| Edited by | David Rudd |
| Distributed by | Transmission Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $750,000 |
| Box office | $554,003[2] |
Fat Pizza vs. Housos is an Australian film based on the combination of the stories and characters of the SBS cult classic Pizza and the Logie award winning comedy Housos television series, created by Paul Fenech. The film began screening in Australian cinemas on November 27, 2014.[3][4][5]
Plot
After serving 15 years in jail for assaulting a health inspector with a chainsaw, pizza chef Bobo Gigliotti is released. Upon his release, he and his Mama attempt to reopen Fat Pizza, their former business. They soon find that due to rent increases since the time they were last in business, the only place that they can afford to reopen their pizzeria is in the infamous housing commission suburb of Sunnyvale. Employing many of their previous workers including Sleek the Elite, as well as a few locals, their re-establishment in Sunnyvale results in conflict with local Housos, notably Shazza Jones, Franky Falzoni and Kev the Kiwi.[3][6][7]
The movie briefly includes references to Fenech's two other television series, with Franky Falzoni stealing a van belonging to Swift and Shift Couriers early in the film and a segment from Bogan Hunters being shown on TV in a scene where Franky is watching television.
Production
The film was written and produced in only 10 months on a modest budget of around $1 million.[8][9] Filming occurred in western Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.[6] The film is dedicated to Alfred "Freddie" Fenech OAM.[10][11]
Casting
The movie features almost the entire all-star cast of the TV series "Fat Pizza" and "Housos". Notable among those missing is Rebel Wilson who played Toula in "Fat Pizza". Producer Paul Fenech noted that her high profile status in Hollywood made it difficult for her to find time to return to Australia for filming.[12]
Innovation
Fat Pizza vs. Housos was notable in that it ushered in the introduction of the thongarang, building off the already growing trend of the use of a thong as a weapon. The thongarang is a combination of two iconic Australian items, the thong and the boomerang. The creation of a thongarang requires two thongs to be arranged in a fashion that resembles the shape of a boomerang, and subsequently held fast in place by the insertion of a bolt between the two thongs. If made correctly, the resulting thongarang is a cheap and easy to use throwing weapon that returns to the user without fail after attacking the assigned victim.[13][14]
Reception
Fat Pizza vs Housos debuted at 8th place in Australian movie ticket sales, earning $280,604 in 52 theatres during its opening weekend.[15] It was the only Australian-made film to feature in the weekend's top 10.[15][16]
Long after 1000 sensitive, lyrical mood pieces have been forgotten, there'll surely be a place in Australian film history for the unsinkable Paul Fenech – writer-director-star of Fat Pizza, Housos vs Authority, and now Fat Pizza vs Housos, in which the characters from two of his knockabout TV comedies go head to head on the big screen.
Cast and Characters
Fat Pizza workers
- Maria Vanuti as Mama Gigliotti
- Johnny Boxer as Bobo Gigliotti
- Paul Fenech as Pauly Falzoni
- Tahir Bilgiç as Habib Halal
- Paul Nakad as Sleek the Elite
- Stuart Rawe as Reg
- Benjamin Cao as Asian Pizza Guy
Housos
- Paul Fenech as Franky Falzoni
- Elle Dawe as Shazza Jones
- Kevin Taumata as Kev the Kiwi
- Vanessa Davis as Vanessa
- Jason "Jabba" Davis as Dazza
- Stuart Rawe as Reg
- Maret Archer as Beryl
- Jimmy Jackson as Big Wheels
- Andrew Ausage as Junior
- Liz Harper as Cheree
- Andy McPhee as Uncle Doug
Sunnyvale International Brotherhood members
- Tahir Bilgiç as Habib Halal
- Rob Shehadie as Rocky
- Ara Natarian as Ara
- Ashur Shimon as Abdul
- Mohammed Hammoud as Mo
- Bill Etri as Lil' Abdul
Bikies
- Angry Anderson as Angry
- Davey Cooper as Davo the Dwarf
- Gregory King as Tank
Junkies
- Alex Romano as Jimmy the Junkie
- Persia Blue as Brandine
Police
- Murray Harman as Officer Richard Head
- Garry Who as Officer Garry Kock
Centrelink workers
- Renzo Bellato as Renzo
- Waseem Khan as Waseem
Others
- Kyle Sandilands as Thonging Victim
- Jonesy as Premier Campbell Abbott
- Nick Giannopoulos as Taxi Driver
- Vince Sorrenti as Real Estate Agent
- Derek Boyer as Bubbles
- Kerser as Sunnyvale Rapper
- Sam Greco as Dino Falzoni
- John Mangos as News Presenter
See also
References
- ↑ ""HEAVEN THE AXE PREMIERE – “FAT PIZZA” VS HOUSOS MOVIE ANTHEM"". Heaven The Axe. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ↑ http://if.com.au/2012/11/05/article/Box-Office-Housos-Vs-Authority-opens-with-554K-at-cinemas/CTQCWMTACT.html
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 ""Fat Pizza Vs Housos"". Hoyts. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ↑ ""Fat Pizza Vs Housos"". Event Cinemas. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ↑ Jarvis, Danielle (28 November 2014). ""Fat Pizza vs. Housos director Paul Fenech makes a cheeky promise"". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Maddox, Gary (27 November 2014). ""Paul Fenech takes bogan pride in Fat Pizza vs Housos tilt at profanity record"". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ ""2014 Fat Pizza vs. Housos"". SBS. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- ↑ Harvey, Shannon (27 November 2014). ""Lowbrow larrikin's comic tip"". The West Australian. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ ""Paul Fenech opts for a slice of the action in his latest comedy — Fat Pizza vs Housos"". News Limited. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ Keller, Louise. ""FAT PIZZA VS HOUSOS"". Urban Cinefile. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ ""Alfred Fenech (1937-2014) – a stalwart advocate for the Maltese in NSW"". Maltese Community Council of Victoria. 1 July 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ Tremayne, Sam (24 November 2014). ""Fat Pizza vs Housos - The Interview"". Out in Canberra. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ Lamont, Damita (24 November 2014). ""Fenech film a wild ride"". The Advocate. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ ""Fat Pizza Vs Housos Preview"". 26 November 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 ""Mockingjay continues to glide at No.1"". News Limited. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ↑ Harvey, Shannon (2 December 2014). ""Is Fat Pizza vs. Housos the year's worst movie?"". The West Australian. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
- ↑ Wilson, Jake (26 November 2014). ""Fat Pizza vs Housos review: Paul Fenech's suburban comedy takes stereotypes to the extreme"". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 December 2014.