Sequels are a tricky beast to tame with a fine line between producing a fun-loving, thoughtful follow-up and churning out a cheap imitation. Sione’s 2: Unfinished Business is happily one of the former.

Set five years after the first film, Sione’s Wedding, Sione’s 2 sees the man-child “Duckrockers”, Michael (Robbie Magasiva), Sefa (Shimpal Lelisi), Stanley (Iaheto Ah Hi) and Albert (Oscar Knightley) reunited back in suburbia with a brand new mission from the Minister (Nathaniel Lees).

Writers James Griffin and Oscar Knightley have delivered a script that strays from the usual “stick to the formula” sequel and have delivered another comedy with plenty of heart and humour. A bigger budget and new director, Simon Bennett, allows for a more realised film, with better pacing and slicker editing. Just as the film begins to descend into schmaltz it is saved by the immature humour of the four leads and an incorporation of islander culture that isn’t seen very often on screen. The rest of the cast offer sturdy support, most notably the boys’ exasperated cousin Bolo, or Paul! (played by David Fane, also known for television series Bro’Town). Also of note is the female cast, including Sefa’s undeserved girlfriend Leilani (Teuila Blakely) and Albert’s workmate-turned-wife Tania (Madeleine Sami). These ladies offer more rounded characters and performances than in many American comedies of the same style.

As a comedy, Sione’s 2 works better than many of the Hollywood “bro-mance” stock and is a lesson for the Australian film industry: keep it simple stupid. It doesn’t try to be anything other than it is and allows for a pleasurable think-free viewing.

Veronica Ward