The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (2009)

Fresh and Exciting

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

The Topp Twins are accomplished musical stylists, episodically gifted songwriters, respectable cultural commentators and excruciatingly dreadful comedians, but that's not why this movie was made. It's actually a sort of socio-political pornography aimed squarely at existing fans. The purpose of this movie is essentially to allow people who've never knowingly met a lesbian and don't know which end of a sheep to feed to feel smug about liking and hating all the right things - hooray agrarian sensibilities and homosexual law reform, boo 1981 tours and nuclear ships. The Twins seem all too happy to contribute to this, not even complaining when the editors fade out their most lovely song, "Milestones", in favor of an interview where they congratulate each other for being so humble as to not use limousines on tour. We do eventually learn the real reason these girls are untouchable - they're lightning rods for the conceits and enthusiasms of New Zealand's suburban, heterosexual, middle-class liberal establishment - but that reason is nothing much to be proud of.

What a great movie this is! If you like to be entertained and have a good laugh, you will like this movie. It is a very interesting tale of two remarkable Kiwi women who are identical twins. It charts their lives from early years growing up on a farm, their involvement in New Zealand's political and social issues of the times, and their rise to fame on the national and international stage. The subjects are likable and down to earth, and funny and spirited. They have an amazing joyous attitude throughout everything, and the audience can feel this. The singing of the twins is also great, with beautiful harmonies. It is presented in a straight forward and simple style, which is perfect, as the main subjects are so diverse. The director has allowed the twins' humorous eccentricities, their love of life, and strong joyful spirits to shine through! Don't miss it!

To anyone who for whatever reason has doubts they'll enjoy the Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls film:All you need is a sense of humour - because I stress this isn't a regurgitation of their TV show sketches. It's a story of the very interesting lives of two women who've been unflinchingly out and proud as activists and entertainers since the early 70's. There's no other person on the planet who is remotely like them - and only a few who could hope to match them for courage and commitment as equal rights activists. They fought on the front line for gay rights, indigenous rights and against apartheid (at the Springbok demonstrations) - and they gave their comrades a much needed emotional lift.The film combines pristine archival footage with songs from a recent retrospective concert and comments from people who know them well - including celebrity associates such as Billy Bragg, Mark Trevorrow and John Clarke."Untouchable Girls" will do a power of good by inspiring and empowering any viewer to fight for what they believe in - and to value and enjoy each day and the truly good things in life.Whatever your gender or sexual preference, I firmly believe that the vast majority of viewers will find "The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls" to be richly rewarding. It is very classy cinematography with an effect as powerful as any cinema classic - but with the distinct advantage of being entirely true.A unique globally relevant and first class documentary, and one of the very best feature films I've seen.

The older I get, the more moved I am by people who perfectly express who they are. The Topp Twins are "New Zealand icons": yodelling lesbian comic singers with (as one show-biz type acknowledges) zero commercial prospects but who are nonetheless approaching three decades into a career as peerless audience-pleasers with perfect entertainment pitch. This film tells the story (including the Topps' key role in the repeal of sodomy laws in NZ just by being more fun than the opposition) with no frills but enormous heart.But wait! You also get: the funniest lesbian joke I've ever heard. (Hope that's not a spoiler)