‘Flight of the Conchords’: Flighty music and comedy

(Published Sept. 1, PDI-Entertainment)
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Contributor

They’re creative but a little clueless about rock ‘n’ roll culture, and are often mistaken for Australians. Music-comedy duo Flight of the Conchords is a versatile pair from New Zealand starring in HBO’s hilarious “Flight of the Conchords,” where they cultivate their unique brand of humor and artistry. It’s a fictionalized look at the band’s daily inanities as struggling musicians in New York, showcasing Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie’s penchant for silly lyrics and a wide range of musical styles.

The half-hour show created by the duo and James Bobin is a pleasing mix of deadpan wit, picturesque songs, and silly music videos written into the storylines. The humor’s focus, or obsession, on trivial matters is Seinfeld-esque, and a little Beavis and Butthead-ish, but “Conchords” has its distinct tone and flavor. It also pokes fun at serious topics from time to time in its inimitable way.

Jemaine and Bret are old friends and roommates hoping to make it big in America. They’re managed by the well-meaning but inept Murray (Rhys Darby), a fellow New Zealander who somehow manages to get them gigs, but at the oddest places. They get into a variety of mini-disasters; one episode focuses on the awkwardness that results from Jemaine and Bret liking the same girl, while another focuses on their encounters with a racist fruit vendor.

The banter between the Conchords and their various interactions--with Murray, their single fan and stalker Mel (Kristen Schaal), and their “wise” friend Dave (Arj Barker)--are consistent thigh-slappers.

The characters are likeable losers. Jemaine is the goofier one; he gets the sillier sequences mainly because his character’s written as the dumber guy. Lacking in social skills, he can’t grasp the concept of privacy when Bret and his new girlfriend go on dates, and even blames the impending breakup of the Conchords to the girl he calls “Yoko.”

Bret, meanwhile, is slightly more centered and is a pushover. He’s more serious, but he gets just as goofy as his pal on rare occasions. He’s a bit smarter than Jemaine, but they’re both quite unsure--and usually dependent on inefficient Murray--when it comes to making career decisions. The Conchords complement each other, and are similarly funny whenever their reveries eventually break into infectious and reflective songs.

As musicians, Jemaine and Bret are no strangers to disparate styles; they integrate folk, rock, reggae, hip-hop, synth-pop or R & B touches whenever necessary. The imagery-inspiring lyrics add to the hilarity. Jemaine’s Barry White-ish music video, a dream sequence where he describes events leading to a sexy time with a woman, is one of the more memorable numbers. The pair also sings as Hobbits in a “Lord of the Rings”-inspired video, which is immensely entertaining.

It’s fun to soar into Flight of the Conchords’ world every episode, and to experience the desperate but dedicated duo’s brand of flighty music and comedy.

(“Flight of the Conchords” will air on HBO starting Sept. 3 at 10:30 p.m. Fans of the show can also join the “I ♥ Flight of the Conchords” Trailer Contest. Participants can submit 30-second trailers for “Flight of the Conchords” from August28 to November 5. The winning videos will be aired on Nov.19. Check out www.hboasia.com/fotc for details.)