Search - Summer Heights High on DVD

Improvisational Satire at its Best

Juviebetfixer | Turin, Italy | 11/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Australia has given us some excellent character actors: script-ripping stagemen who can become larger than life caricatures. Think Crocodile Dundee, or -- better yet -- Dame Edna.

But Chris Lilley has come along and surpassed them all. Indeed, his versatility and roaringly off-putting humour surpasses any of the dark humour in 'Little Britain' or other such countrywide satires.

Now we in North America can enjoy 'Summer Heights High', one of the truly wicked and funny send-ups of a secondary school mini-universe, its cliques, turf wars, and teachers (who are barely more mature than the students).

'Summer Heights High' deserves proper sequential viewing -- one cannot simply dive into a later episode and acquire the plot. Lilley's immense talent for character-forming deserves close attention and patience as he lays down, through improvisation, innuendo, and sheer brilliance for skit acting, three distinct narratives (which amazingly never cross paths) in a suburban Australian school. Details of these three personas which he takes on can be found widely, so I won't repeat the background stories here. I just want to state that Lilley's ability to assume different characters is positively uncanny. I mean, uncanny. Take an excellent method actor and combine it with a razor mouthed pirrahna of improv and quick-thinking, and you get a sense of just how kooky and unpredictable Lilley is.

For my money, it surpasses the muti-headed hydra pranks of Cohen (of 'Borat' fame). Because Lilley can deliver sinister and scathing satire on racism, drugs, and just about every other taboo -- but just when you wonder if he's a nihilist, out comes a breathtaking moment of magnificent spirit and heart. The final scenes involving Jonah Takalua are simply headshakingly good, without any hint of that 'very special moment' that usually mars most dramas supposedly about teens.

Chris Lilley, you're brilliant, mate."

Awesome show!

*Caligirl_08* | San Diego | 02/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not Australian and have never been there. I stumbled upon this show by accident and watched all 8 episodes in two days. It's really hilarious and I love how in Australia touchy subjects and foul language aren't censored! It makes things much more real and true to life. I wish there were more episodes but it's more fitting for it to end the way it did. My favorite was Jonah Takalua and his friends, but Mr. G and Ja'mie were hilarious too! I didn't realize Ofa was a girl until episode 3!

This show makes me want to search for more Aussie shows and to visit Australia for vacation. I've heard HBO has picked this up, I'd recommend everyone give it a try. if you guys liked Ali G & Borat you will surely love this!"

Original and Hilarious

EarthFan | St.Louis,Missouri | 11/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chris Lilley has done it again. Summer Heights High is his best work yet. This series is about three characters(all played by Lilley) at a high school in Austraila(where the series is based). We meet Jonah, a 13 year old delinquent. Ja'mie, a snobby, downright awful girl who was transfered from a private school. My personal favourite is Mr.G, the drama teacher, whos ego is as large as Aussie itself. This one isnt really for the kids though. Most of the humour will go right over their heads (plus the swearing).

This series is refreshing and new. I'm so glad it FINALLY came to America.
If you cant wait, buy the Region 4 dvd. It will work on some American dvd players."

Chris Liley is just flat-out brilliant.

J. Arena | Williamsburg, VA | 01/19/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered Summer Heights High quite by accident. Someone else turned it on, and not really paying full attention for the first few moments I came to the realization that I was not being subjected to some sappy documentary about kids in school, but headed down the rabbit hole into an insane world dominated by Chris Lilley.

All I can say is that Chris Lily possesses the talents of every one of the Kids in the Hall, Monty Python and the first two seasons of SNL in his little finger. I watched eight episodes in rapid succession, and I'm still desperate for more, more, more!

Mr. Lilly -- wherever you are -- be aware that I am in awe of your talent!
"