‘Flight of the Conchords’ soars anew

(Published July 31, PDI-Entertainment)

By Oliver M. Pulumbarit

Contributor

In season two of the hilarious “Flight of the Conchords,” struggling musicians Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement experience tougher career mishaps and other inanities. The talented but unsuccessful folk duo from New Zealand is neglected by their manager, Murray (Rhys Darby), who has been focused on his other talents, the hit-making band Crazy Dogggz. But early into this new season, the expected reversion to the status quo happens, and the old silly dynamic is revived.

That hasn’t grown old, and the familiar oddball humor is replicated further. The Conchords are still an unappreciated band trying to make it big in New York. They’re creative, but they’re sometimes forced to play at the oddest venues, including libraries and elevators. Managed by the inefficient Murray, Bret and Jemaine mostly get into nonsensical situations, which escalate into gut-busting misadventures. They break into musical musings, the interspersed videos crucial to every episode’s theme.

The songs are still catchy--not as musically or lyrically as previous ones, but they’re memorable. Most of the videos look better, or have better visual effects. The Conchords get to perform different musical styles again, and even their sole fan/stalker Mel (Kristen Schaal) gets to sing about her obsessions in her own number.

Bret and Jemaine are awkward and naive, but their songs get reflective from time to time. Like in its initial season, the musicians still discuss trivial matters, and find themselves in situations that they have to endure.

In a new episode of the show, the friends become so poor that they have to resort to peddling drinking straws (and later, themselves). In another episode, Bret opines in a number that Eminem and other famous rappers are “not very good,” and forms his own gang. In another arc, Jemaine and Murray run into jerks who ridicule New Zealanders.

While it’s not as witty or focused as before, “Flight of the Conchords” still manages to elicit hearty laughs. The fusion of music and comedy is distinctly weird and whimsical, and it’s still easy to get into that unique brand of hilarity.

New episodes of “Flight of the Conchords” will air on HBO starting August 3, at 11 p.m.