This is my review of We're here to help written for Black Magic.co.nz you can find it here, http://www.black-magic.co.nz/home/?p=609
Regretfully I spelled Jonothan's name wrong in that article so sorry about that.
“No you listen to me you clown, you talk to one of my people like that again and I’ll come down here and kick your fat ass from one end of Cashel Street to the other… is that clear?”
These are the angry words of Businessman Dave Henderson (Erik Thomson) before he leaves the IRD offices in Christchurch after his girlfriend Kath (Miriama Smith) had received some rather unprofessional and suggestive comments when she had come to collect a refund that Dave’s company had been owed.
Unfortunately this leads to Dave being audited by the IRD and ultimately leads down a road that only gets worse and worse however Dave will not give in and Fights back until he ultimately wins.
We’re here to help is a film is a true story based on Dave Henderson’s book “Be Very afraid” Directed by Jonothan Cullinane is a true David and Goliath story with the biggest bureaucracy of all… The Tax Department.
Dave refuses to give into their pressure and keeps on fighting and keeps his sense of humour on the way.
In the process he begins taping every conversation with the department as well as every demand and scrap of paper this leads to some very funny scenes with IRD employees all squirming at the thought that they can’t just bullshit their way through the conversation.
The light hearted comedy is very well made the story is interesting funny and the acting is solid.
One of my favourite moments in the film is during one of the scenes during one of the IRD meetings.
Dave announces that he is sick of being lied to and decides to start recording their conversations so that he has proof of what they are telling him.
The man who’s come into the room with him suddenly becomes very nervous and without saying much quickly leaves the room and is soon replaced with someone else.
Being Jonothan’s first feature film it’s definitely a winner. I can’t think of a single actor who delivered a sub standard performance and I never once lost interest in the movie while I was watching it.
I found it really interesting to see the difference in how the IRD handled themselves whilst they knew they were being taped versus when they were not being taped, going from very confident and precise to unorganized and nervous often just trying to avoid the questions.
Unlike other comedies which have been developed in New Zealand in the past the film isn’t bogged down by lot’s of Kiwi jokes which international audiences wouldn’t understand and I really like that about the film international appeal is something I believe all Kiwi films should aspire to.
Bottom line is this, David and Goliath stories are always fun especially when they’re about the little guy taking on the Tax department well worth watching come November 8th I may even go see it again.
