These spinoffs from the Summer Heights High TV show feature one of the characters in depth rather than switching between them. This gives us more focus but at the expense of wearing the material thin. I think I liked the original format more because it kept things fresh. I'm surprised that Jonah and Ja'mie got spinoffs but not Mr. G considering that he was probably the most popular character. This show demonstrates why. Although Jonah is a funny and endearing character, it is only entertaining up to a point and there is a finite limit for his much they can get out of this one character.
22 Reviews
Another hit show from Chris Lilley
anthonymusca11 June 2014
Jonah from Tonga the predecessor to Chris's previous show Ja'mie Private School Girl is a great show, edgy but great. The dark comedy has a slow start as you will wonder what it is leading to but shortly after watching the second episode, you know your in it for the long run; each episode just gets better and better. The show shows light to many issues that are a reality, it very real, but its hilarious at the same time. The character Chris has created has a lot of depth, that will be hard for many people to see, the character Jonah may seem ridiculous to you after watching the series, but he is very real. Ultimate this show is another great representation to the genius Chris Lilley is, to date I find it to be his best work.
Chris Lilley = genius; Not for most Americans
cellapie12 August 2014
I think Chris Lilley is a comedic genius and I've loved all of his shows even though I've pretty much loathed all of his characters. Unlike, say Frasier or Niles Crane or David Brent and Michael Scott, Lilley's characters are simply NOT appealing human beings. Not only would you not want to know them, you'd likely want to avoid them or even kick them in the throat. Jonah is the second of Lilley's "Summer Heights High" characters to get their own show -- J'amie was the first -- and he is the most annoying of the three characters from SHH. The problem a lot of people -- specifically Americans -- is that the story lines don't resolve in the Hollywood way and the characters are so abhorrent. If there's any justice, Mr. G will get his own show as well!
If you're easily offended and don't understand dry humor, don't bother
markanderson63129 August 2014
For the other imbeciles who are leaving reviews saying "I don't get it", of course you don't because Jonah from Tonga isn't your usual low brow American comedy.
It's smart, funny and extremely dry. Probably more suited to Europeans and our mates down under.
The reason why JFT is so brilliant is because the writing brilliantly captures exactly how a troubled teenager would act, right down to the speech and behavioral nuances.
Yes the show gets a bit weird at times, but if you "get" dry humor, you will love it.
That is all.
It's smart, funny and extremely dry. Probably more suited to Europeans and our mates down under.
The reason why JFT is so brilliant is because the writing brilliantly captures exactly how a troubled teenager would act, right down to the speech and behavioral nuances.
Yes the show gets a bit weird at times, but if you "get" dry humor, you will love it.
That is all.
Good, not great
davidbanthony133 May 2014
Well, this was definitely better than J'amie: Private School Girl, but that honestly isn't that hard. Jonah as a character had a decent amount of depth, and there were some genuinely heartwarming moments scattered throughout the six episode series. But there was little to nothing in the way of character development and the humour was very repetitive and unfortunately not very funny to begin with. Like with J'amie, there was just too much focus on a single character for the series to really work that well. Summer Heights High is still Chris Lilley at his best - three strong characters, an engaging plot, and just incredibly funny. Unfortunately he hasn't managed to even get close to it since, and whilst this was a small step in the right direction, it's something I'll have forgotten about very quickly.
Chris Lilly is a Comic Mastermind
mudminnow014 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
One of my favorite series on HBO! The most accurate portrayal of a troubled teen that I have ever seen apart from real life. Jonah From Tonga has received many bad criticisms for Chris's use of so called "Black Face", the whole point of the show has been lost on political correctness. How could Chris expect anyone else to accurately play Jonah when he created the character in his mind and depends on the use of improve when he is in character? If you take the time to actually watch the show and see how Jonah develops over the series, then you would see a whole backdrop of cultural, and social elements forming to shape a young impressionable mind into a functional member of society, and your own racist ideas will fade. It takes a village and that is what I believe the whole concept behind this masterfully put together show proves. By the way if you are only into mind numbing cookie-cutter shows and can't step out of the politically correct conformist societal box, then go watch Friends re-runs.
Alright but......
Scottles3 May 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I think out of all of his work now Chris has shown that his strength is in character and situations but not in story. This is the case again with Jonah, although I do think it was better than the J'Amie series.
The problem is it's kind of like the same joke over and over again - and it just wears off. I thought this series started a bit slowly then started to get good with the dance competition and the time in juvenile detention but then failed to fully deliver.
The problem is the character never really got his come-uppance he doesn't grow or change enough to make him interesting or compelling enough to watch over 2 series. Jonah either needed to get the crap beaten out of him so he learnt some humility, or he needed to have something he really valued destroyed by his own actions and then come to realise it himself - and learn and grow from that.
But none of this happens - and once we get the shock and the humour and everything to do with the character and style of the show it just wears thin. I found J'Amie very similar - if she had falsely accused someone of molesting her and all of that came to ahead and she was brought to account by it imagine how good that series could have been - rather than what we got.
Chris is very talented and very insightful and observant - and brave - but I really think he needs to understand story more, and how it works and what it does to character and the audience - and why - in order to get the most out of what he is trying to do.
The problem is it's kind of like the same joke over and over again - and it just wears off. I thought this series started a bit slowly then started to get good with the dance competition and the time in juvenile detention but then failed to fully deliver.
The problem is the character never really got his come-uppance he doesn't grow or change enough to make him interesting or compelling enough to watch over 2 series. Jonah either needed to get the crap beaten out of him so he learnt some humility, or he needed to have something he really valued destroyed by his own actions and then come to realise it himself - and learn and grow from that.
But none of this happens - and once we get the shock and the humour and everything to do with the character and style of the show it just wears thin. I found J'Amie very similar - if she had falsely accused someone of molesting her and all of that came to ahead and she was brought to account by it imagine how good that series could have been - rather than what we got.
Chris is very talented and very insightful and observant - and brave - but I really think he needs to understand story more, and how it works and what it does to character and the audience - and why - in order to get the most out of what he is trying to do.
You'll love it if you can relate to it
Erynelle6 May 2014
So I've been a fan of Summer Heights High, but mostly the character Jonah Takalua. As a teenager pacific islander his character really appealed to me. Jonah from Tonga is hilarious, and I think that if you're a pacific islander teenager or young adult they will find it more hilarious than those who aren't because they can relate to Jonah's character. There's a Jonah in every school I think. I love Jonah from Tonga, it displays the peer pressure of gangs on pacific islander students and the behaviour shown by pacific islanders. I think that Chris Lilley has done an amazing job at not only making Jonah from Tonga funny but has also portrayed the reality of the lives of some pacific islander students. I have friends that are very much like Jonah and his crew. Thank you Chris Lilley! One word. Fobalicious!
pure, concentrated teenager
ke8218 August 2014
Another reviewer here put it very well: Summer Heights High was balanced and engaging, but when Chris Lilley ventures off with single characters, the stories and character development falter.
Jonah is not an unrealistic character; he is that hyper, intensely irritating, in-the-name-of-all-that's-holy-STFU teenager that we've all seen somewhere, even if only in passing. He's pure, concentrated annoyance, desperate for any kind of attention or reaction. And I give Chris Lilley full points for being able to recreate that. But unless you're a social worker or a teacher specializing in behavior disorders, do you really want to spend time with that kid, even from the safety of your living room? Seriously, when the teacher breaks a chair against the wall or Jonah's father chases him across a bowling alley with a steady stream of obscenities and death threats, you understand completely.
And that's probably Lilley's point: How do you deal with someone so profoundly and unrelentingly obnoxious, but who is, after all, still a kid? I like that there are no Very Special Episodes (at least not so far) in which Jonah learns his lesson and vows to do better. Instead, we're only given brief glimpses of his possible humanity, e.g., his love for his younger brother or his semi-endearing delusions regarding his dance skills. But while it's more realistic for Jonah to carry on with little forward movement, the lack of development does mean that the show is repetitive and circular.
Jonah is not an unrealistic character; he is that hyper, intensely irritating, in-the-name-of-all-that's-holy-STFU teenager that we've all seen somewhere, even if only in passing. He's pure, concentrated annoyance, desperate for any kind of attention or reaction. And I give Chris Lilley full points for being able to recreate that. But unless you're a social worker or a teacher specializing in behavior disorders, do you really want to spend time with that kid, even from the safety of your living room? Seriously, when the teacher breaks a chair against the wall or Jonah's father chases him across a bowling alley with a steady stream of obscenities and death threats, you understand completely.
And that's probably Lilley's point: How do you deal with someone so profoundly and unrelentingly obnoxious, but who is, after all, still a kid? I like that there are no Very Special Episodes (at least not so far) in which Jonah learns his lesson and vows to do better. Instead, we're only given brief glimpses of his possible humanity, e.g., his love for his younger brother or his semi-endearing delusions regarding his dance skills. But while it's more realistic for Jonah to carry on with little forward movement, the lack of development does mean that the show is repetitive and circular.
I wanted to love this as much as other Lilley works.
nuckcee2 August 2014
25% Jonah Jokes (tired after episode 1)
25% Adults being annoyed & yelling at Jonah (Viewer will become as annoyed)
40% Noise. Yelling, Bickering, Arguing over one another. (Frustrating!)
10% Decent.
I found myself annoyed and frustrated watching this series. I couldn't and didn't find ANY witty writing. Most of, if not all seemed like filler/nonsense.
I was sadly, thoroughly disappointed. But. will always watch what Chris Lilley delivers next.
25% Adults being annoyed & yelling at Jonah (Viewer will become as annoyed)
40% Noise. Yelling, Bickering, Arguing over one another. (Frustrating!)
10% Decent.
I found myself annoyed and frustrated watching this series. I couldn't and didn't find ANY witty writing. Most of, if not all seemed like filler/nonsense.
I was sadly, thoroughly disappointed. But. will always watch what Chris Lilley delivers next.
Rude,Cruel But Awsm. Not for children or the "conservative"
lilahnjay6 September 2014
First I would Like to say that U need to have a big sense of humor and a open mind to watch this show. I seen some reviews that say they are "tired" of hearing his jokes and him being rebellious. That is Jonahs personality learn to accept it or don't watch it. My Husband and I do like the show; Even though we viewed disrespect towards others and racist jokes it was funny. Come on we all want to say those bad things to others sometimes; Or say A racist joke. The point is to my review, Don't take it Literally OR personally. Its just acting... Very good acting. Chris Lilley did a Awsm job. We cant wait to see what he is going to come out with next.
Another YOB hero to look down on
meggafish8 May 2014
This show is a tragedy disguised as a comedy. Lots of swearing, nut punching, more swearing, dancing, corny jokes (the point of which is to be corny.) Not one original or fresh idea in the whole show. It plays like an old time minstrel show, where white men donned black-face to make fun of black people. I can't imagine who commissioned this tragedy. As you watch it you can see Jonah's future unfold; pregnant girlfriends, multiple children growing up like him, a series of minimum wage jobs, punctuated by long periods of unemployment and jail time. Later there will substance abuse leading to addiction and homelessness and the last act will be when he is murdered or dies at 44. Not much of a comedy in that is there? The fact that people find this funny is another disturbing aspect of show. I hope it gets canceled as soon as possible. We have enough people like "Jonas" in the world already and I fear this moron will become a popular part of popular culture, like the knock-out game and similar b.s. that mass media disseminates over the airwaves. To sum up, kill it before it spreads.
Jonah
rblib218 August 2014
One of the funniest shows I've seen on TV. I know we live in a very sensitive era and some may be offended, but funny is funny no matter how you look at it. It's also amazing how he pulls off being a 14 year old of Tongan descent but is in his late thirties. The way he blends in with the younger characters on the show is brilliant. This will prompt me to go back and watch his other offerings (Summer Heights High and Angry Boys) just to see what I've been missing. Brilliant comedic minds don't come along very often, so let's enjoy this and not suppress the laughter that he is bring to the table. Can't wait for the next episode. Kudos to Chris Lilley for creating this character.
Hilarious, accurate, surprisingly heart-warming
tylertucker-896781 December 2019
I was a big fan of Jonah back when I was in middle school (as I related to it, having a Samoan best friend) and really got excited to hear there was a sequel! Outdoes the original by far. Just Jonah and his misadventures.
Perfectly portrays a troubled teenage boy in every way. Also embodies Polynesian youth pretty well (I grew up with a ton of Polynesians my whole life). Super funny, even heartwarming at times, as you see the development of this youth.
Chris Lilley is amazing as well, having created all of this and portraying the main character. Very talented. I'm American also, but maybe many Americans wouldn't really get it, especially if you don't know many Islanders. But try to enjoy it nonetheless.
Perfectly portrays a troubled teenage boy in every way. Also embodies Polynesian youth pretty well (I grew up with a ton of Polynesians my whole life). Super funny, even heartwarming at times, as you see the development of this youth.
Chris Lilley is amazing as well, having created all of this and portraying the main character. Very talented. I'm American also, but maybe many Americans wouldn't really get it, especially if you don't know many Islanders. But try to enjoy it nonetheless.
Tonga is a real place....
garabedian12317 January 2022
Didn't get it
agolddog10 August 2014
Saw the entry on the Dish program guide the other night. I'd been to Tonga a few years back, so I thought it might be interesting to see a bit more of their culture. Didn't realize it was a mockumentary.
It wasn't offensive, or shocking, or whatever they were trying to go for. Just stupid. No coherence to what was going on. Didn't feel as if there was anything authentic about the performance. Even 14 year old boys can come up with more clever dick jokes than were given here.
As jp said above, maybe it just doesn't translate well to America, and it's a riot for those in Australia. I remember thinking afterward that might've been the worst half-hour of television I'd ever witnessed.
It wasn't offensive, or shocking, or whatever they were trying to go for. Just stupid. No coherence to what was going on. Didn't feel as if there was anything authentic about the performance. Even 14 year old boys can come up with more clever dick jokes than were given here.
As jp said above, maybe it just doesn't translate well to America, and it's a riot for those in Australia. I remember thinking afterward that might've been the worst half-hour of television I'd ever witnessed.
Classic. Must watch
dowlanator1 March 2021
I am just going to add my voice to the chorus of praise for this movie. It is as near to being perfect as any I have ever seen. I will not say that it is much better than Alien - which is just about near to being perfect also. But I do love all the characters in this movie. I have rarely seen a movie where all the characters were so well developed. Even most serious dramas seldom develops each character so completely. None of these characters are stereotypes even Paul Reiser as Burke, although the slimy company/government man villain is a prerequisite in disaster type movies. I would almost say that my favorite is Michael Beihn as Hicks, just because I like his work & consider him to be underrated. But I also like Lance Henriksen as Bishop, William Hope as Lt. Gorman, Bill Paxton as Hudson, and of course, Jenette Goldstein as Vasquez. I liked all of these characters. I cared about their lives & deaths. The final scene for Gorman & Vasquez still chokes me up after seeing it many times.
I am not ignoring Sigourney Weaver or Carrie Henn. Ripley is the template for the modern action heroine. In the 24 years since Alien, few have been able to measure up to Sigourney Weaver's Ripley. Even in Alien 3 & 4, Ripley was still powerful, despite the 3ed rate quality of the movies. As for Carrie Henn as Newt, she was the emotional heart of Aliens. Cameron's ability to develop well rounded characters does not detract from his ability to create great action scenes or to scare the audience out of a several years of growth.
I am not ignoring Sigourney Weaver or Carrie Henn. Ripley is the template for the modern action heroine. In the 24 years since Alien, few have been able to measure up to Sigourney Weaver's Ripley. Even in Alien 3 & 4, Ripley was still powerful, despite the 3ed rate quality of the movies. As for Carrie Henn as Newt, she was the emotional heart of Aliens. Cameron's ability to develop well rounded characters does not detract from his ability to create great action scenes or to scare the audience out of a several years of growth.
What was HBO thinking?
msatre-76-6545649 August 2014
HBO is presenting this as a "groundbreaking" series. I'm not sure what is so groundbreaking about a show involving a group of teenagers without a bit of respect for adults, society, or their own parents. In the one episode I managed to sit through, the main Character, Jonah, played by Chris Lilly, was rude and disrespectful to his father as they were saying goodbye to each other. Dad got upset, but was clearly at a loss to handle the situation effectively. Jonah is the leader of a group of like-minded teenage boys. They think it's fun to make videos of themselves bullying others (made one kid eat human feces) then post them on YouTube. This is far too juvenile for any self respecting adult to enjoy, and it is a very poor example for younger people to see. This is supposed to be funny? Shame on you HBO. As soon as Game of Thrones has run its course, I will be canceling the network.
Overall good
jvjays16 March 2024
Some people may find this show incredibly hard to watch. But I was entertained the whole way through. I think the reason a love this show so much is because it PERFECTLY captures how some teenagers act. The way Jonah and all the other boys speak and the way they move and choose not to listen, It's these things that I think Chris Lilley nailed. The show also comedically exaggerates a lot of school situations, there's lots of times in the show where teachers or Jonah would do something that would probably not happen in real life, but it's very entertaining. It's not an amazing story or even a very positive one, but the show definitely deserves it's props and did what I think it was trying to do perfectly.
Awful
carlmax18 March 2015
I saw a previous reviewer state that you will like it if you can relate to it, which is entirely true and some others have described Chris Lilley as a writing mastermind. Surely if he were a mastermind in writing he would be able to write a comedy that could be about a certain culture, yet was still accessible to outsiders. I wouldn't even describe this as a comedy because there is nothing to laugh about, not one moment of jest worthy of laughter, absolutely no humour in this sad excuse for a show. It comes across as some weakly written script that was half finished and required the actors to fill in the rest with mundane, clueless ad-lib. Johan, as stated is a somewhat unruly school kid who gets into fights and situations, turns over desks, argues, shouts and all done the most humourless way. To summarise what this programme is like, go to a school and hang around with a load of teenage boys at lunchtime and see if you find they're humour funny and make sure you don't get arrested too. In conclusion, the only way you will relate to this is if you are still at school.
Chris Lilley's humor doesn't always translate to American audiences
jp75709 August 2014
Chris Lilley's new show - "Jonah From Tonga" - is another in his series about fictitious Australian high school students. This limited-run 6-episode show on HBO looks like it was produced solely for Australian audiences, then picked up by HBO for zero production costs.
It's not like I am watching HBO 24/7 but I didn't see any ads for this new series. I stumbled upon it in the listings and recognized Lilley's name from a previous effort ("Ja'mie: Private School Girl", on HBO in 2013).
Lilley's brand of humor is not for everyone and often comes off as either creepy or racist. In "Ja'mie", Lilley - a 38 year-old man - played a high-school girl which came off as very creepy, even off-putting. For me, there weren't enough funny moments to offset the awkward factor. In this new series, a now-39-year-old Lilley plays a young Tongan teenage boy. Sure, Lilley has a slight build that allows him to play young (think John Leguizamo), but my impression is that Lilley is not nearly as talented as Leguizamo. Just dropping F-bombs and displaying generally contemptible behavior is not enough to make this character watchable.
Lilley is building a stable of disenfranchised characters from presumably fictitious Summer Heights High School. So it wouldn't be surprising to see a movie in the works that incorporates all of the characters, including his signature teens Ja'mie and Jonah.
There are some fans of Lilley's here and that's fine. However, I found his humor to be wanting at best. There may be some cultural things that we Americans don't get, or maybe Lilley's humor is intentionally uncomfortable and awkward - not unlike Andy Kaufman (but again, not as talented as Kaufman). I was able to get through 3 of the "Ja'mie" shows before deciding it just wasn't worth it. After watching the first "Jonah", I won't waste my time on the remaining 5 shows in this limited-run series.
I give Chris Lilley credit for coming up with something original. But, like HBO's "Girls", the show is polarizing, off-putting, and quickly becomes derivative of itself. If you like Lilley's previous shows, then you shouldn't be disappointed by this new one. But if you weren't a fan of "Ja'mie", you might not want to put this one in your DVR lineup. Watch at your own discretion.
It's not like I am watching HBO 24/7 but I didn't see any ads for this new series. I stumbled upon it in the listings and recognized Lilley's name from a previous effort ("Ja'mie: Private School Girl", on HBO in 2013).
Lilley's brand of humor is not for everyone and often comes off as either creepy or racist. In "Ja'mie", Lilley - a 38 year-old man - played a high-school girl which came off as very creepy, even off-putting. For me, there weren't enough funny moments to offset the awkward factor. In this new series, a now-39-year-old Lilley plays a young Tongan teenage boy. Sure, Lilley has a slight build that allows him to play young (think John Leguizamo), but my impression is that Lilley is not nearly as talented as Leguizamo. Just dropping F-bombs and displaying generally contemptible behavior is not enough to make this character watchable.
Lilley is building a stable of disenfranchised characters from presumably fictitious Summer Heights High School. So it wouldn't be surprising to see a movie in the works that incorporates all of the characters, including his signature teens Ja'mie and Jonah.
There are some fans of Lilley's here and that's fine. However, I found his humor to be wanting at best. There may be some cultural things that we Americans don't get, or maybe Lilley's humor is intentionally uncomfortable and awkward - not unlike Andy Kaufman (but again, not as talented as Kaufman). I was able to get through 3 of the "Ja'mie" shows before deciding it just wasn't worth it. After watching the first "Jonah", I won't waste my time on the remaining 5 shows in this limited-run series.
I give Chris Lilley credit for coming up with something original. But, like HBO's "Girls", the show is polarizing, off-putting, and quickly becomes derivative of itself. If you like Lilley's previous shows, then you shouldn't be disappointed by this new one. But if you weren't a fan of "Ja'mie", you might not want to put this one in your DVR lineup. Watch at your own discretion.
Awful
kenny-154-6090187 October 2018
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