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Walking on the path paved by Chris Lilley and We Can Be Heroes (who, ironically was a no-name cast member on Radio Karate's short lived Hamish & Andy show in 2004) Real Stories takes a series of short mockumentaries and groups them together using the (rather clever) "Current Affairs" formula.
There
are plenty of fun moments to be had throughout the eight episodes on
offer from the likeable lads (all of which started on Channel 31 less
than three years prior). From a one armed Newspaper-Boy recruiter, to a
celebrity sex tape director to the extremely humourous look at the
trials and tribulations of one man's attempt to make Hey Dad: The Movie.
While
the skits do tend to drag on a little bit at times, and the
characterisations don't seem to extend past Hamish Blake, Andy Lee and
Ryan Shelton's own personalities (although, it must be said, this is
where a lot of the humour seems to stem from), all can be forgiven for
the pure fact that host, Jenifer Adams, is absoloutley hilarious. In
fact, at times, Adams is one of the few people that warrants "Laugh out
Loud" moments. Here perfectly dry delivered lines in between segments
are utterley superb - which seemed to go largely unnoticed when the
show aired in late 2006 on Channel 10. The show has not been
picked up for a second series, which doesn't come as a great surprise.
It is on of the better comedies on the box, but aside from a
pretty consistent performance from Shelton and the odd funny moment
from Blake, the the majority of the eight episodes seems like a watered
down attempt to impersonate the likes of Lilley and The Office. There are a bevvy of celebrity cameos which help boost the interest levels in some of the weaker stories including Tony Martin (The Late Show), Alan Brough (Spicks & Specks), Rove McManus (Rove Live) and Jesse Martin (remember that kid who sailed the world solo?).
And there are some absolute corker stories which (had they been all put
in one episode) made for a really really good pilot episode. Personal
favourites include Andy Lee as a church reviewer, who rates pastors on
their "show" performances (which finally allows Rove McManus to show
his true comic ability outside of a talk show host - he really is quite
a good sketch performer), as well as the shows biggest highlight - a
story which follows Shelton as a man who looks after people with odd
medical conditions. This is Shelton in his finest form - and one has to
wonder why the guy didn't get the chance to hit the mainstream like his
Radio friendly co-stars. He is a revelation. Real Stories
on the whole is a rather patchy affair, but there are more than enough
laughs on offer, proving that Australian comedy isn't dead - it's just
been hiding on Community TV. EXTRAS
What
the Radio Karate team lack in consistent quality in the actual series,
they more than make up for in DVD extras with a fantastic second disc
jam packed of extras. There is a fantastic retrospective look
over the making of the series, with heaps of back stage footage. The
friendship and genuine excitement of the shows creators really comed
through here and is a joy to watch. There's heaps of deleted scenes and bloopers as well as the short film which not only inspired Real Stories but what got them noticed by Roving Enterprises. A great package that's well worth the effort of hunting down. Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 80%
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