We’re Here to Help Review

On Thursday night, we were invited to a special advance screening of South Pacific Picture’s new film, We’re Here to Help, which I really enjoyed.

The David-and-Goliath tale is based on a real-life story, which some of you may remember from the mid-late 90′s: businessman Dave Henderson takes on the IRD and wins.

In some ways, it’s a local version of Erin Brokovich’s story: the little guy won’t give up against big organisation on principle, even though they lose so much in the process.

The drama has some regular laugh-aloud moments, but I wouldn’t class it as a comedy. It’s insightful, and includes recent political history by weaving in Rodney Hide’s first big battle as a politician – believably played by the superb Michael Hurst. Seeing a snippet from TVNZ’s election night coverage of the “shuffle board”, old womans mags (with stars from today looking younger), 90s clothing and hair (ew) and IRD posters brought back memories.

It’s a moving tale and one where you really do feel for the main character, and wonder how often this sort of scary thing can happen to innocent people. There’s moments anyone can relate to, even if you’ve had no real dealings with IRD – such as your phone call being constantly transferred from person to person when you need to get help.

The film stars Erik Thomson (All Saints, Xena, The Black Balloon – who looks a little like Keifer Sutherland sometimes!), Miriama Smith (Xena, Mercy Peak) Michael Hurst (Hercules, The Tattooist), Jason Hoyte, John Leigh, Stephen Papps, Geoff Clendon, Peter Elliott and Greg Johnson. Pretty much everyone has been on Shortland Street, or Outrageous Fortune or both.

I would definitely recommend checking out this movie. It’s not terribly fast, or action-packed but it’s a well-made and fascinating Kiwi story. My only real gripe would be that I felt it ended too fast – I wanted to know more of what happened afterwards, not only with IRD as a result (I’m told there was a big inquest and the case changed the whole makeup of IRD) but more about what Dave himself is up to these days.

Read more about the movie or feel free to ask any questions!

We’re Here to Help is released in theatres nationwide on November 8 2007

About the author

Co-founder of Throng. Favourite TV shows recently: Homeland, Revenge, House.
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  • Tui

    I was lucky to do some stuff at SPP related to the film. It really does look cool and I look forward to checking it out.

  • MrCynical

    Doesn’t look too bad, though more of a DVD movie if anything.

    Poor michael hurst, one day you are playing the sidekick of hercules, the next you are rodney hide.

    if I was him i would be eating a few less pies and moisturising a little more regularly.

  • Sue

    No need to feel sorry for Michael Hurst. It took a razor, a fat suit, and a whole lot of latex to make him look like Rodney Hide.

    There’s a fairly recent picture of him here: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10449861
    His hair is pretty short–still growing out from the Rodney Hide role–but you can see there’s no resemblance.

  • Rachel
  • Tui

    Just found the DVD at a bookstore (haven’t seen it anywhere else) – like Outrageous 3, the DVD cover looks so cheap, NOT worth the $30 I paid.

    Still, i watched it and it was cool, but the ending was very brief. Seeing it was good timing – today I got a thick package from the IRD. hmm.

  • MrCynical

    You buy DVD’s based on their covers?

    Shallow much?

  • Tui

    No, but it doesn’t look very quality from the cover.

  • MrCynical

    do you base your book buying on the same criteria?

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